Cost of Living Comparison Between Chesapeake, VA and Tamworth Cost of Living Comparison Between Chesapeake, VA and Tamworth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,508 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $2,283 in Tamworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,497 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $3,373 in Tamworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,487 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $4,464 in Tamworth, rent included.

Chesapeake, VA costs about 10% more than Tamworth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chesapeake, VA and Tamworth sit above the global median – Chesapeake, VA by 87%, Tamworth by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.86 $12.86

$20.77 £15.39

-38.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$80.5 £59.7

-7.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 $10.10

$9.68 £7.18

4.34%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$4.65 £3.45

16.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.24 £1.66

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.77 £1.31

12.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.26 £4.64

-11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.29 £4.66

-5.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.67 £1.24

-47.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.63 £1.21

149.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.31 £1.71

39.39%

Eggs

$3.45 $3.45

$3.68 £2.73

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.55 $13.55

$10.92 £8.10

24.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 $8.32

$8.27 £6.12

0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$12.14 £8.99

35.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.39 £1.77

117.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.81 £1.34

-41.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$1.99 £1.47

189.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.73 £2.02

64.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.26 £0.93

119.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.43 £1.06

102.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.83 £0.62

90.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.34 £1.00

69.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.35 $7.35

$18.72 £13.87

-60.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.33 £8.39

34.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.78 £2.06

-38.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.75 £2.04

14.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.34 £2.47

-40.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.5 $70.5

$88.5 £65.6

-20.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$5.10 £3.78

-50.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.49 £1.10

-20.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.99 $14.99

$22.59 £16.74

-33.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.93 £1.43

-55.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K $29.6K

$38.5K £28.5K

-23.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K $27.0K

$40.5K £30.0K

-33.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$283 £209

-33.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$17.29 £12.81

208.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$41.54 £30.78

26.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.59 $42.59

$37.87 £28.06

12.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.78 $12.78

$15.15 £11.22

-15.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,472 $1,472

$1,057 £783

39.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K $19.0K

$18.9K £14.0K

0.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 $51.6

$96.1 £71.2

-46.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.83 $19.83

$47.13 £34.92

-57.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 $68.7

$121 £89.6

-43.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 $60.3

$94.2 £69.8

-36.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,803 $1,803

$1,215 £900

48.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 $1,353

$1,001 £742

35.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$2,073 £1,536

6.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,902 $1,902

$1,695 £1,256

12.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,846 $1,846

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,628 $1,628

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,330 $4,330

$4,210 £3,120

2.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.76

13.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chesapeake, VA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tamworth: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,803 in Chesapeake, VA versus $1,215 in Tamworth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Chesapeake, VA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Chesapeake, VA versus $81.0 in Tamworth. Groceries tell a different story – $378 in Chesapeake, VA vs $280 in Tamworth – so Tamworth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chesapeake, VA vs Tamworth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chesapeake, VA is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,762 per month in Chesapeake, VA and $3,425 in Tamworth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tamworth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,472 per month in Chesapeake, VA and $1,057 in Tamworth. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Chesapeake, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Tamworth, where all-in costs run around $2,283, than in Chesapeake, VA at $2,508. In Tamworth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chesapeake, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tamworth – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tamworth. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chesapeake, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.