Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA
| Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 18% lower | 3% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 2% higher |
| Food | 4% lower | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 14% lower | 12% lower |
| Transportation | 5% lower | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 3% lower | - |
The cost of living in Charlottesville, VA is 8% lower than the state average and same as the national average. Charlottesville, VA housing is 3% 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 2% 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 12% 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 $2,179, while home prices circle around $540,168.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Charlottesville, energy bills cost around $237.17 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 $4.83 in Charlottesville, a dozen eggs go for around $4.44 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.27.
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 $205.27, while a dentist appointment is priced $119.25 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.00 in Charlottesville, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $51.45.
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 $37.18 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.32.
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 $14.79 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.25, while dry cleaning costs about $15.31.
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 $74,824.