CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
CA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Charlottesville is moderately cheaper than Los Angeles — 14.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $91,700 in Los Angeles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+59.3%
Charlottesville
107
Los Angeles
170.4
🛒 Groceries+10.1%
Charlottesville
96.8
Los Angeles
106.6
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Charlottesville
103.5
Los Angeles
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.8%
Charlottesville
93.7
Los Angeles
99.1
Utilities+78.2%
Charlottesville
89
Los Angeles
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Los Angeles, CA
$91,700
$11,700 more needed in Los Angeles

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 1.1463. 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×

Los Angeles, CA

Median Home Price
$944,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.4×

Los Angeles has 59.3% higher housing costs compared to Charlottesville.

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

Los Angeles, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
3,979,576
Top Industries
EntertainmentTechnologyHealthcareLogisticsReal Estate

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)

Los Angeles, CA
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% 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.