CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Columbia, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Columbia is moderately cheaper than Charlottesville — 9.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $72,200 in Columbia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing35.3%
Charlottesville
107
Columbia
69.2
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Charlottesville
96.8
Columbia
94.2
🚗 Transportation5.6%
Charlottesville
103.5
Columbia
97.7
🏥 Healthcare5.7%
Charlottesville
93.7
Columbia
88.4
Utilities3.4%
Charlottesville
89
Columbia
86

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Columbia, MO
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in Columbia

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9021. 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×

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Charlottesville has 35.3% lower housing costs compared to Columbia.

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

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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)

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.