Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA
| Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 7% higher | 9% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% higher | 4% higher |
| Food | 0% | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 4% lower | 3% lower |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 7% lower |
| Goods & Services | 3% higher | 3% higher |
The cost of living in Charlottesville, VA is 3% higher than the state average and 3% higher than the national average. Charlottesville, VA housing is 9% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Charlottesville, VA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 3% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 3% pricier 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 $2,006, while home prices circle around $561,832.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Charlottesville, energy bills cost around $215.36 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 $4.69 in Charlottesville, a dozen eggs go for around $4.04 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.15.
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 $138.41, while a dentist appointment is priced $109.36 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 $49.56.
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 $42.38 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.61.
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 $13.55 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.17, while dry cleaning costs about $13.53.
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 $67,177.