Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottesville, VA and Hampton, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottesville, VA and Hampton, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,914 in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,261 in Hampton, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,455 in Charlottesville, VA versus $4,924 in Hampton, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,996 in Charlottesville, VA versus $6,588 in Hampton, VA.

Living in Charlottesville, VA costs roughly 11% less than in Hampton, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottesville, VA 112% above, Hampton, VA 137% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$20.23 $20.23

-2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.6 $99.6

$75.6 $75.6

31.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.92 $12.92

$12.03 $12.03

7.40%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$4.46 $4.46

3.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.41 $3.41

-21.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.41 $2.41

-19.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.43 $6.43

$6.42 $6.42

0.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$9.11 $9.11

-35.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.54 $1.54

-27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.46 $3.46

0.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$6.14 $6.14

2.28%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$5.46 $5.46

-7.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.54 $16.54

$8.13 $8.13

103.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$20.05 $20.05

-24.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.84 $17.84

$23.71 $23.71

-24.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$7.67 $7.67

-14.60%

Banana (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.37 $3.37

16.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$9.57 $9.57

-23.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.03 $8.03

$9.82 $9.82

-18.23%

Potato (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$6.13 $6.13

6.04%

Onion (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$6.77 $6.77

-4.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.74 $2.74

-9.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$5.20 $5.20

-38.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 $9.35

$10.37 $10.37

-9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 $15.55

$17.75 $17.75

-12.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.69 $1.69

0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.86 $3.86

-4.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.79 $3.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 $55.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.08 $5.08

-22.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.85 $1.85

9.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$20.16 $20.16

24.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.95 $0.95

-4.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.7K $36.7K

-1.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K $25.2K

$24.8K $24.8K

1.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$283 $283

$218 $218

29.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.1 $52.1

$53.2 $53.2

-1.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$78.6 $78.6

29.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.4 $70.4

$112 $112

-37.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 $7.43

$35.09 $35.09

-78.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$15.65 $15.65

-2.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,421 $1,421

$1,297 $1,297

9.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$15.1K $15.1K

97.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.74 $46.74

$46.97 $46.97

-0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$40.05 $40.05

19.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 $93.5

$135 $135

-30.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$136 $136

-10.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 $1,980

$1,647 $1,647

20.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 $1,406

$1,587 $1,587

-11.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,024 $3,024

$2,903 $2,903

4.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$2,884 $2,884

-9.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,804 $2,804

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,801 $2,801

$2,348 $2,348

19.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,624 $4,624

$3,780 $3,780

22.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

6.08

-0.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Hampton, VA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,980 in Charlottesville, VA and $1,647 in Hampton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charlottesville, VA pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Charlottesville, VA vs $76.0 in Hampton, VA. Groceries flip the comparison at $524 vs $595, with Charlottesville, VA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Charlottesville, VA vs Hampton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charlottesville, VA and Hampton, VA differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,914 vs $3,261 including rent). Charlottesville, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Charlottesville, VA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,980 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,647 in Hampton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Hampton, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,914 per month in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,261 in Hampton, VA – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Charlottesville, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Charlottesville, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.