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 $2,544 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $2,247 in Tamworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,530 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $3,337 in Tamworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,516 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $4,426 in Tamworth, rent included.

Chesapeake, VA costs about 13% more than Tamworth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chesapeake, VA and Tamworth sit above the global median – Chesapeake, VA by 91%, Tamworth by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.26 $13.26

$20.21 £15.06

-34.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$82.3 £61.3

-10.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 $10.08

$9.61 £7.16

4.89%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$4.62 £3.44

12.12%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$2.23 £1.66

4.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.75 £1.30

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.96 £4.44

-8.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.16 £4.59

-3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.75 £1.30

-47.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.01 $4.01

$1.58 £1.17

153.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.36 £1.76

35.17%

Eggs

$3.44 $3.44

$3.62 £2.69

-4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.95 $13.95

$10.94 £8.15

27.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.01 £5.97

1.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.51 $16.51

$11.73 £8.73

40.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.28 £1.70

125.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.72 £1.28

-36.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$1.96 £1.46

196.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.84 £2.12

52.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.26 £0.94

122.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.49 £1.11

94.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.80 £0.60

95.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.38 £1.03

58.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.61 $7.61

$19.15 £14.26

-60.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$11.10 £8.26

33.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.84 £2.12

-39.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.70 £2.01

11.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.34 £2.49

-41.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.2 $71.2

$87.2 £64.9

-18.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$5.09 £3.79

-49.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.54 £1.15

-22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.70 $14.70

$22.78 £16.97

-35.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.98 £1.47

-59.09%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$38.4K £28.6K

-20.25%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$39.3K £29.2K

-33.22%

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

$185 $185

$283 £211

-34.42%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$16.78 £12.50

220.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.4 $53.4

$42.94 £31.98

24.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.60 $42.60

$38.36 £28.57

11.05%

Cinema Ticket

$13.03 $13.03

$14.70 £10.95

-11.36%

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

$1,483 $1,483

$1,036 £772

43.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K $18.7K

$19.0K £14.1K

-1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$95.4 £71.1

-45.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.31 $20.31

$47.26 £35.20

-57.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 $68.7

$120 £89.3

-42.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.2 $60.2

$96.1 £71.5

-37.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 $1,791

$1,245 £927

43.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,379 $1,379

$985 £733

40.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,234 $2,234

$2,060 £1,534

8.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 $1,898

$1,711 £1,274

10.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,843 $1,843

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,630 $1,630

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,189 $4,189

$4,106 £3,058

2.04%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Tamworth: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,791 in Chesapeake, VA versus $1,245 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 2% 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 $74.0 in Chesapeake, VA versus $82.0 in Tamworth. Groceries tell a different story – $376 in Chesapeake, VA vs $277 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 13%, 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 $3,816 per month in Chesapeake, VA and $3,371 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 $1,483 per month in Chesapeake, VA and $1,036 in Tamworth. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $2,247, than in Chesapeake, VA at $2,544. 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.