How much does it cost to rent in Chesapeake, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Chesapeake, VA is $2,041. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Chesapeake cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Chesapeake falls in the middle range for Virginia, ranking #47 out of 83 cities at $2,041/mo.

When was Chesapeake rent data last updated?

Chesapeake rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Chesapeake

Name: Average Rent Prices in Chesapeake, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 252,583·47th most expensive in Virginia·Chesapeake rents are up 7.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,041/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

+$76

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Chesapeake · $2,041

More expensive than 61% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

42/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Chesapeake's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,041/mo

Expected by trend

$1,961/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Chesapeake's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,637

1 BR

$1,647

2 BR

$1,883

3 BR

$2,622

4 BR+

$3,120

Research median

$1,883/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$24,492/yr

At $2,041/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.8% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Chesapeake, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 36.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

252,583

Median income

$95,373

Median age

37.9

Renters

25.6%

Age distribution

24.2%

21.5%

27.2%

12.6%

14.6%

Under 1824.2%

18–3421.5%

35–5427.2%

55–6412.6%

65+14.6%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

55.1%

29.1%

White55.1%

Black29.1%

Hispanic7.7%

Asian3.9%

Other4.3%

Education (25+)

24.5%

32.8%

36.9%

No HS diploma5.8%

HS diploma24.5%

Some college32.8%

Bachelor's+36.9%

Housing tenure

74.4%

25.6%

Owner74.4%

Renter25.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Chesapeake, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,471 → $2,041

up 38.7%

Income

$85,563 → $95,373

up 11.5%

Population

247,172 → 252,583

up 2.2%

Renter share

27.3% → 25.6%

-1.7 pts

Bachelor's+

35.5% → 36.9%

+1.4 pts

Median age

37.1 → 37.9

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Chesapeake, VA has climbed 38.7% since 2021, going from about $1,471 per month to roughly $2,041 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $85,563 in 2021 to $95,373 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 27.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 247,172 to 252,583 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.2% change. About 25.6% of households rent today, against 27.3% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Chesapeake, VA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Chesapeake

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View Chesapeake rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Chesapeake on your salary?

At $2,041/mo, how Chesapeake rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 25.4% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 35.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 17.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 38.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 42.3% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 34.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Chesapeake rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Chesapeake. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Chesapeake

About renting in Chesapeake, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Chesapeake is $2,041/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,637/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,883/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,647/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,622/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($95,373/yr), Chesapeake ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Chesapeake an affordable city for renters?

Chesapeake is considered affordable for renters. At $2,041/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($95,373/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Chesapeake falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Chesapeake?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $82,000/year (~$39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,041/mo in Chesapeake. The local median household income is $95,373/yr, meaning the typical Chesapeake household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Chesapeake?

Rent in Chesapeake has increased 7.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Chesapeake neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Chesapeake are 23321 ($1,856/mo), 23324 ($1,895/mo), and 23325 ($1,960/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Chesapeake is $2,041/mo.

How does Chesapeake rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Chesapeake is middle-of-the-pack for Virginia for rent, ranking #47 out of 83 tracked cities at $2,041/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chesapeake?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Chesapeake ($2,041/mo): Portsmouth ($1,617/mo), Hampton ($1,693/mo), Norfolk ($1,752/mo).

What percentage of Chesapeake residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 25.6% of Chesapeake households are renters, while 74.4% are owner-occupied. Chesapeake leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Chesapeake rent compare to the national average?

Chesapeake's median rent of $2,041/mo is $76 (4%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Virginia, it ranks #47 out of 83 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

26%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,041/mo, rent takes ~26% of Chesapeake's median household income ($95,373/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Chesapeake 26%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Chesapeake affordability calculator →

Nearby cities