CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Charlottesville, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

Charlottesville is moderately cheaper than Boulder — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $75,400 in Charlottesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing31.8%
Boulder
157
Charlottesville
107
🛒 Groceries+0.7%
Boulder
96.1
Charlottesville
96.8
🚗 Transportation1.2%
Boulder
104.8
Charlottesville
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.2%
Boulder
94.8
Charlottesville
93.7
Utilities+7.6%
Boulder
82.7
Charlottesville
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charlottesville, VA
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in Charlottesville

Formula: salary × (99.1 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.9420. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Charlottesville, VA

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

Boulder has 31.8% lower housing costs compared to Charlottesville.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

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).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.