CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw 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 Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing40.6%
Charlottesville
107
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Charlottesville
96.8
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Charlottesville
103.5
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Charlottesville
93.7
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+7.6%
Charlottesville
89
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$73,400
$6,600 less needed in Saginaw

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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Charlottesville has 40.6% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.