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: $3,331 in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,218 in Hampton, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,989 in Charlottesville, VA versus $4,821 in Hampton, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,646 in Charlottesville, VA versus $6,424 in Hampton, VA.

Living in Charlottesville, VA is roughly 4% more expensive than in Hampton, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottesville, VA 149% above, Hampton, VA 141% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.19 $22.19

$22.15 $22.15

0.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$74.1 $74.1

61.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.76 $12.76

$13.31 $13.31

-4.13%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.44 $5.44

1.47%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$3.14 $3.14

-12.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.35 $2.35

-16.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.54 $6.54

-7.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

$7.89 $7.89

-24.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.35 $1.35

-15.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.04 $4.04

-14.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.08 $7.08

$10.32 $10.32

-31.40%

Eggs

$5.92 $5.92

$5.66 $5.66

4.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.13 $19.13

$10.14 $10.14

88.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.15 $20.15

$25.34 $25.34

-20.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.98 $17.98

$23.91 $23.91

-24.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.74 $7.74

-1.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.68 $2.68

5.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.88 $7.88

$10.34 $10.34

-23.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$9.81 $9.81

11.72%

Potato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$6.20 $6.20

-24.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$7.43 $7.43

-49.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.54 $3.54

-21.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.33 $4.33

-27.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.03 $8.03

$10.54 $10.54

-23.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$17.86 $17.86

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.70 $1.70

2.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.65 $3.65

3.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.86 $3.86

-48.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

$55.8 $55.8

171.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.04 $5.04

-12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.85 $1.85

38.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 $29.47

$20.15 $20.15

46.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.93%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$24.6K $24.6K

0.49%

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

$292 $292

$217 $217

34.57%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$53.8 $53.8

-0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$111 $111

$68.3 $68.3

62.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.2 $71.2

$111 $111

-35.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.80 $34.80

Cinema Ticket

$14.99 $14.99

$15.29 $15.29

-1.96%

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

$1,425 $1,425

$1,282 $1,282

11.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$15.2K $15.2K

52.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.19 $48.19

$47.55 $47.55

1.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.67 $48.67

$40.45 $40.45

20.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$117 $117

-17.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$120 $120

-0.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 $1,819

$1,501 $1,501

21.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 $1,569

$1,557 $1,557

0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 $2,924

$2,595 $2,595

12.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 $2,580

$2,634 $2,634

-2.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,767 $2,767

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,762 $2,762

$2,280 $2,280

21.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,568 $4,568

$3,786 $3,786

20.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.26

0.96%

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

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Hampton, VA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,819 in Charlottesville, VA and $1,501 in Hampton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charlottesville, VA pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $120 in Charlottesville, VA vs $74.0 in Hampton, VA. Groceries flip the comparison at $569 vs $643, 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 4% in total monthly costs ($3,331 vs $3,218 including rent). Hampton, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 21% 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: $1,819 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,501 in Hampton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Hampton, VA – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $120 in Charlottesville, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,331 per month in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,218 in Hampton, VA – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Hampton, 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 Hampton, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Charlottesville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.