Cost of Living in Charlottesville, VA
Charlottesville, VA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
99.1
U.S. average = 100 · #97 of 387
Median wage
$55,180
all jobs · $3,680/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,602
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Charlottesville, VA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Charlottesville, VA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 99.1 | −0.9% |
| Housing | 107.0 | +7.0% |
| Goods | 96.8 | −3.2% |
| Utilities | 89.0 | −11.0% |
| Other services | 98.6 | −1.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Charlottesville, VA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,421 | $56,840/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,602 | $64,080/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,824 | $72,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,218 | $88,720/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,731 | $109,240/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Charlottesville, VA
Your take-home pay
$44,158
per year · effective tax rate 20.0%
$3,680Monthly
$1,840Twice a month
$1,698Every 2 weeks
$21.23Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,442
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,421
- Medicare (1.45%)$800
- Virginia income tax$2,359
- Take-home pay$44,158
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Charlottesville, VA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Charlottesville, VA metro area are 99.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 107.0%. It is the #97 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Charlottesville, VA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,488 in Charlottesville, VA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $55,180.
How much is rent in Charlottesville, VA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Charlottesville, VA are $1,421 for a studio, $1,602 for one bedroom, $1,824 for two bedrooms and $2,218 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Charlottesville, VA
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $170,250
- Managers, All Other — $141,770
- General and Operations Manager — $107,200
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $97,680
- Management Analyst — $87,100
- Human Resources Specialist — $82,430
- Accountant and Auditor — $81,530
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $72,010
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $66,640
- Loan Officer — $60,610
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $128,520
- Computer Systems Analyst — $110,290
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $63,200
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,800
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,770
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $37,870
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,890
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $142,950
- Registered Nurse — $99,320
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $44,140
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,700
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Bartender — $48,210
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,030
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,510
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $33,090
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,150
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,860
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,090
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $34,940
Personal Care and Service Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $62,790
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,600
- Retail Salesperson — $34,210
- Cashier — $30,930
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,510
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $53,100
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $52,680
- Office Clerks, General — $45,620
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $45,460
- Customer Service Representative — $40,240
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $37,140
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,980
- Electrician — $62,980
- Carpenter — $56,090
- Construction Laborer — $45,080
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,170
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,970
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,210
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,710