Cost to Own
United StatesVirginiaChesapeake cityChesapeake Population 251,153 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Chesapeake, Virginia

A $359,000 home here costs

$2,704

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,846. The real number is $858 higher every month — 47% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Chesapeake median: $359,100
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $287,200 borrowed $1,846
Property tax0.818% effective rate for Chesapeake itself $245
Homeowners insuranceVirginia averages $1,199/yr (NAIC), or 0.295% of home value $88
Electricity17.61¢/kWh — Virginia residential average, EIA $158
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $299
Total monthly $2,704

Chesapeake against Chesapeake city and Virginia

MeasureChesapeakeChesapeake city
Median home value$359,100$359,100
Median property tax$2,937$2,937
Effective tax rate0.818%0.818%
Median gross rent$1,523$1,523
Population251,153251,153

The weather behind that power bill

Chesapeake sits in Chesapeake city, which averages a high of 92.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.6°F in its coldest, with 48.62" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,130 cooling and 2,810 heating degree days, which is what sets the $158 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Chesapeake city — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Chesapeake city

No other places of this size are published in Chesapeake city.

Full Chesapeake city cost breakdown · Every county in Virginia

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Chesapeake?

A $359,000 home in Chesapeake, Virginia costs approximately $2,704 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,846 principal and interest, $245 property tax, $88 homeowners insurance, $226 utilities and $299 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Chesapeake?

Chesapeake has an effective property tax rate of 0.818%, based on a median home value of $359,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,937. That is in line with the Chesapeake city average of 0.818%.

What is the average home price in Chesapeake?

The median owner-occupied home value in Chesapeake, Virginia is $359,100, against $359,100 across Chesapeake city.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chesapeake?

Median gross rent in Chesapeake is $1,523 a month, against $2,704 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Chesapeake — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Virginia.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology