CostIndexUSA

Allentown, PA vs Charlottesville, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Allentown
100
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

Charlottesville is slightly cheaper than Allentown — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Allentown, you would need $79,300 in Charlottesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+1.4%
Allentown
105.5
Charlottesville
107
🛒 Groceries3.8%
Allentown
100.6
Charlottesville
96.8
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Allentown
102.6
Charlottesville
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Allentown
92.9
Charlottesville
93.7
Utilities17.3%
Allentown
107.6
Charlottesville
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charlottesville, VA
$79,300
$700 less needed in Charlottesville

Formula: salary × (99.1 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9910. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Allentown, PA

Median Home Price
$349,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
105.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Charlottesville, VA

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

Charlottesville has 1.4% higher housing costs compared to Allentown.

Income & Job Market

Allentown, PA

Median Household Income
$81,200
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
125,845
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailLogisticsFinance

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).

Allentown, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.