Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottesville, VA and Lihue, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottesville, VA and Lihue, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,399 in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,061 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,973 in Charlottesville, VA versus $4,470 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,547 in Charlottesville, VA versus $5,880 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Charlottesville, VA is roughly 11% more expensive than Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottesville, VA 154% above, Lihue, HI 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.37 $22.37

$46.28 $46.28

-51.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.9 $79.9

47.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.79 $12.79

$12.41 $12.41

3.06%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$6.85 $6.85

-19.56%

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

$2.83 $2.83

$2.59 $2.59

9.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.01 $2.01

-5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$4.08 $4.08

49.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$4.08 $4.08

50.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.87 $1.87

-39.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$6.75 $6.75

-47.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$2.86 $2.86

145.45%

Eggs

$6.03 $6.03

$10.27 $10.27

-41.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.40 $19.40

$15.33 $15.33

26.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.20 $20.20

$15.42 $15.42

31.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.43 $17.43

$19.91 $19.91

-12.46%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$4.73 $4.73

57.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.64 $1.64

81.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.55 $8.55

-4.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.07 $11.07

$9.74 $9.74

13.66%

Potato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.82 $2.82

71.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$6.02 $6.02

-38.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.62 $3.62

-23.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.10 $2.10

54.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.19 $8.19

$11.82 $11.82

-30.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.44 $15.44

$14.15 $14.15

9.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.64 $1.64

125.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.97 $1.97

3.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$151 $151

$52.4 $52.4

188.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.56 $3.56

25.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.65 $1.65

47.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.97 $28.97

$28.89 $28.89

0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.40 $1.40

-37.14%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

-10.58%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

-5.37%

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

$288 $288

$184 $184

56.33%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$30.52 $30.52

74.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$108 $108

$55.7 $55.7

93.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 $71.6

$43.21 $43.21

65.68%

Cinema Ticket

$14.97 $14.97

$9.24 $9.24

62.01%

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

$1,411 $1,411

$1,185 $1,185

19.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$16.1K $16.1K

46.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.46 $47.46

$51.5 $51.5

-7.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.78 $47.78

$40.67 $40.67

17.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 $93.7

$86.9 $86.9

7.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$110 $110

8.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 $1,771

$1,987 $1,987

-10.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$1,529 $1,529

2.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,946 $2,946

$2,613 $2,613

12.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,197 $2,197

18.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,926 $2,926

-3.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,820 $2,820

$2,567 $2,567

9.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,682 $4,682

$2,007 $2,007

133.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.5

-2.77%

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

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,771 in Charlottesville, VA and $1,987 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charlottesville, VA pays 133% 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: $118 in Charlottesville, VA vs $80.0 in Lihue, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $572 vs $538 per month, with Lihue, HI cheaper across the board.

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 Lihue, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charlottesville, VA and Lihue, HI differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($3,399 vs $3,061 including rent). Lihue, HI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Charlottesville, VA pays 133% more on average, 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: $1,771 in Charlottesville, VA versus $1,987 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lihue, HI – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $118 in Charlottesville, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,399 per month in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,061 in Lihue, HI – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lihue, HI 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.

Safety-wise, Charlottesville, VA and Lihue, HI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lihue, HI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Charlottesville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.