CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is moderately cheaper than Charlottesville — 6.3% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.9%
Charlottesville
107
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Charlottesville
96.8
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Charlottesville
103.5
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Charlottesville
93.7
Lexington
92
Utilities16.2%
Charlottesville
89
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$75,000
$5,000 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9374. 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×

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Charlottesville has 27.9% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

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

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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)

Lexington, KY
3.9×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.