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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Lihue, HI costs roughly 10% less than in Charlottesville, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$46.28 $46.28

$22.37 $22.37

106.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$118 $118

-32.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$12.79 $12.79

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$6.85 $6.85

$5.51 $5.51

24.32%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.83 $2.83

-8.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.90 $1.90

5.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 $4.08

$6.10 $6.10

-33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$6.15 $6.15

-33.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.14 $1.14

64.04%

White Bread (500g)

$6.75 $6.75

$3.52 $3.52

91.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$7.02 $7.02

-59.26%

Eggs

$10.27 $10.27

$6.03 $6.03

70.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 $15.33

$19.40 $19.40

-20.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.42 $15.42

$20.20 $20.20

-23.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.91 $19.91

$17.43 $17.43

14.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$7.44 $7.44

-36.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.97 $2.97

-44.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.55 $8.55

$8.13 $8.13

5.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.74 $9.74

$11.07 $11.07

-12.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$4.85 $4.85

-41.86%

Onion (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$3.71 $3.71

62.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.77 $2.77

30.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$3.25 $3.25

-35.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.82 $11.82

$8.19 $8.19

44.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.15 $14.15

$15.44 $15.44

-8.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.71 $1.71

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$3.70 $3.70

-55.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.03 $2.03

-2.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.4 $52.4

$151 $151

-65.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.48 $4.48

-20.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.43 $2.43

-32.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.89 $28.89

$28.97 $28.97

-0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.88 $0.88

59.09%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

11.83%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

5.68%

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

$184 $184

$288 $288

-36.03%

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

$30.52 $30.52

$53.2 $53.2

-42.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 $55.7

$108 $108

-48.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.21 $43.21

$71.6 $71.6

-39.64%

Cinema Ticket

$9.24 $9.24

$14.97 $14.97

-38.28%

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

$1,185 $1,185

$1,411 $1,411

-16.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K $16.1K

$23.6K $23.6K

-31.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$47.46 $47.46

8.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.67 $40.67

$47.78 $47.78

-14.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$93.7 $93.7

-7.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$119 $119

-7.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,987 $1,987

$1,771 $1,771

12.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,529 $1,529

$1,573 $1,573

-2.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,946 $2,946

-11.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$2,610 $2,610

-15.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,926 $2,926

$2,819 $2,819

3.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,567 $2,567

$2,820 $2,820

-8.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,007 $2,007

$4,682 $4,682

-57.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.32

2.85%

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

Last update for Lihue, HI: June 1, 2026

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,987 in Lihue, HI and $1,771 in Charlottesville, VA. 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: $80.0 in Lihue, HI vs $118 in Charlottesville, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $572 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

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

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

On paper, Charlottesville, VA earns 133% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,987 in Lihue, HI versus $1,771 in Charlottesville, VA. 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 $3,061 per month in Lihue, HI versus $3,399 in Charlottesville, VA – 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, Lihue, HI and Charlottesville, VA 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.