Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA
| Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 6% higher | 7% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% higher | 2% higher |
| Food | 1% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 10% lower | 6% lower |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | - |
The cost of living in Charlottesville, VA is 2% higher than the state average and 1% higher than the national average. Charlottesville, VA housing is 7% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Charlottesville, VA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 0% .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 0% in Charlottesville, VA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Charlottesville is $2,091, while home prices circle around $564,221.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Charlottesville, energy bills cost around $222.57 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.71 in Charlottesville, a dozen eggs go for around $4.12 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.00.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Charlottesville, an optometry check-up costs around $190.56, while a dentist appointment is priced $118.74 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.26 in Charlottesville, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $49.46.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $36.62 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.93.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Charlottesville, you should budget around $14.22 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.50, while dry cleaning costs about $14.02.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Charlottesville, the median household income is $69,829.