States › Virginia › Chester

Is Chester, VA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,5979% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$102,570about $8,548/month · 18% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$327,2002% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 53% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $63,880 a year. That is $31 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Virginia. It is number 57 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Chester
$1,597
Brambleton
$3,500+
Herndon
$2,548
Bailey's Crossroads
$1,904
Chantilly
$2,573
Fairfax
$2,551
Salem
$1,475

How much do households earn in Chester?

Under $25k
6.6%
$25k–50k
18.2%
$50k–100k
35.1%
$100k–150k
25.2%
$150k+
10.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 35.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Chester

SizeChesterU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,221$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,525$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,893$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,631$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Chester overall?

Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
107
Goods (food, clothes…)
100
Utilities
92
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Chester, so the Virginia figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Chester

🏛️ Property tax$2,470a year · 0.75% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$170a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Chester

Commute to work27.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree33.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home71.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chester?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $673 a month less.

Renting
$1,597
Owning
$2,270

Owning assumes a typical $327,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $32,720 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Chester, VA?

Renting in Chester costs a median of about $1,597 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.

How much do I need to make to live in Chester?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $63,880 a year, or $31 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Chester cheap or expensive?

Chester is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.7% of the typical household income of $102,570. It ranks 57th cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Chester?

The median homeowner in Chester pays $2,470 a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of the median home value.

Is Chester more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Virginia are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Chester?

The median home value in Chester is $327,200, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

24,474 people live in Chester. Numbers are typical (middle) values.