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: $2,914 in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,190 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,455 in Charlottesville, VA versus $5,540 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,996 in Charlottesville, VA versus $7,889 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Charlottesville, VA costs roughly 9% less than in Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottesville, VA 112% above, Lihue, HI 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$25.50 $25.50

-22.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.6 $99.6

$112 $112

-11.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.92 $12.92

$13.10 $13.10

-1.37%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$6.36 $6.36

-27.67%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$3.72 $3.72

-28.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.49 $2.49

-22.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.43 $6.43

$6.90 $6.90

-6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$8.03 $8.03

-26.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.83 $1.83

-38.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$6.66 $6.66

-47.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$2.85 $2.85

120.35%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$9.96 $9.96

-49.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.54 $16.54

$15.31 $15.31

8.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.48 $15.48

-1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.84 $17.84

$19.89 $19.89

-10.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.80 $4.80

36.46%

Banana (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.32 $3.32

18.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$8.92 $8.92

-17.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.03 $8.03

$10.08 $10.08

-20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$4.78 $4.78

35.98%

Onion (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$6.20 $6.20

4.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 $9.35

$11.90 $11.90

-21.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 $15.55

$16.17 $16.17

-3.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.67 $1.67

1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.62 $1.62

127.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 $51.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$8.19 $8.19

-51.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.82 $1.82

11.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$15.25 $15.25

64.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.27 $1.27

-28.35%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

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

$25.2K $25.2K

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

$283 $283

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

$52.1 $52.1

$29.95 $29.95

74.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$59.9 $59.9

69.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.4 $70.4

$91.7 $91.7

-23.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 $7.43

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$9.06 $9.06

68.21%

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

$1,421 $1,421

$1,180 $1,180

20.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$16.3K $16.3K

82.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.74 $46.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 $93.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 $1,980

$2,415 $2,415

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 $1,406

$2,006 $2,006

-29.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,024 $3,024

$5,236 $5,236

-42.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$4,710 $4,710

-44.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,804 $2,804

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,801 $2,801

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,624 $4,624

$1,981 $1,981

133.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

6.25

-3.20%

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

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,980 in Charlottesville, VA and $2,415 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charlottesville, VA pays 133% 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 $112 in Lihue, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $524 vs $520, with Lihue, HI 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 Lihue, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charlottesville, VA and Lihue, HI differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,914 vs $3,190 including rent). Charlottesville, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 133% 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 $2,415 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lihue, HI pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,914 per month in Charlottesville, VA versus $3,190 in Lihue, HI – a 9% 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.

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 Charlottesville, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Lihue, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.