CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Fargo, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Fargo is moderately cheaper than Charlottesville — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $73,400 in Fargo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.2%
Charlottesville
107
Fargo
81.1
🛒 Groceries1.1%
Charlottesville
96.8
Fargo
95.7
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Charlottesville
103.5
Fargo
95.9
🏥 Healthcare7.4%
Charlottesville
93.7
Fargo
86.8
Utilities13.1%
Charlottesville
89
Fargo
77.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fargo, ND
$73,400
$6,600 less needed in Fargo

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9173. 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×

Fargo, ND

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
81.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.7×

Charlottesville has 24.2% lower housing costs compared to Fargo.

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

Fargo, ND

Median Household Income
$72,900
Per Capita Income
$41,600
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
125,990
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationTechnologyRetail

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)

Fargo, ND
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% 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.