CostIndexUSA

Ann Arbor, MI vs Charlottesville, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Ann Arbor
100.9
overall index
$2,050/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

Charlottesville is slightly cheaper than Ann Arbor — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ann Arbor, you would need $78,600 in Charlottesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.6%
Ann Arbor
125.3
Charlottesville
107
🛒 Groceries+3.3%
Ann Arbor
93.7
Charlottesville
96.8
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Ann Arbor
104.5
Charlottesville
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Ann Arbor
94.6
Charlottesville
93.7
Utilities9.4%
Ann Arbor
98.2
Charlottesville
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Ann Arbor to see what you'd need to earn in Charlottesville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Charlottesville, VA
$78,600
$1,400 less needed in Charlottesville

Formula: salary × (99.1 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9822. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Home Price
$398,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,050
Housing Index
125.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Charlottesville, VA

Median Home Price
$455,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
107
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Ann Arbor has 14.6% lower housing costs compared to Charlottesville.

Income & Job Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
123,851
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareManufacturingResearch

Charlottesville, VA

Median Household Income
$92,300
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
46,553
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Ann Arbor, MI
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Charlottesville, VA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.