CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is moderately cheaper than Charlottesville — 6.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $74,800 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.0%
Charlottesville
107
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Charlottesville
96.8
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.3%
Charlottesville
103.5
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
Charlottesville
93.7
Waco
91.4
Utilities9.0%
Charlottesville
89
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9344. 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×

Waco, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Charlottesville has 22.0% lower housing costs compared to Waco.

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

Waco, TX

Median Household Income
$62,700
Per Capita Income
$35,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
138,486
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.