CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
AZ
Phoenix
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Charlottesville is slightly cheaper than Phoenix — 4.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $83,400 in Phoenix. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.3%
Charlottesville
107
Phoenix
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.9%
Charlottesville
96.8
Phoenix
95
🚗 Transportation+5.5%
Charlottesville
103.5
Phoenix
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.4%
Charlottesville
93.7
Phoenix
98.8
Utilities+4.8%
Charlottesville
89
Phoenix
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$83,400
$3,400 more needed in Phoenix

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 1.0424. 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×

Phoenix, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Phoenix has 13.3% 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

Phoenix, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
1,608,139
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareReal EstateTourismFinance

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)

Phoenix, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.