CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Charlottesville — 15.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $67,500 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing60.0%
Charlottesville
107
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Charlottesville
96.8
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation2.9%
Charlottesville
103.5
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Charlottesville
93.7
Monroe
90.9
Utilities18.9%
Charlottesville
89
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$67,500
$12,500 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.8436. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Charlottesville has 60.0% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×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.