CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lawrence is moderately cheaper than Charlottesville — 9.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $72,800 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing33.1%
Charlottesville
107
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Charlottesville
96.8
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation4.8%
Charlottesville
103.5
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.9%
Charlottesville
93.7
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities≈ Equal
Charlottesville
89
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$72,800
$7,200 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9102. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlottesville, VA

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Charlottesville has 33.1% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

Income & Job Market

Charlottesville, VA

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charlottesville, VA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.