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

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

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

Living in Lihue, HI is roughly 9% more expensive than in Charlottesville, VA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.50 $25.50

$19.76 $19.76

29.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 $112

$99.6 $99.6

12.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 $13.10

$12.92 $12.92

1.39%

Cappuccino

$6.36 $6.36

$4.60 $4.60

38.26%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.67 $2.67

39.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.94 $1.94

28.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$6.43 $6.43

7.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$5.90 $5.90

36.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.12 $1.12

63.39%

White Bread (500g)

$6.66 $6.66

$3.48 $3.48

91.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$6.28 $6.28

-54.62%

Eggs

$9.96 $9.96

$5.03 $5.03

98.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 $15.31

$16.54 $16.54

-7.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.19 $15.19

1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.89 $19.89

$17.84 $17.84

11.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$6.55 $6.55

-26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.92 $3.92

-15.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.92 $8.92

$7.33 $7.33

21.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$8.03 $8.03

25.53%

Potato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$6.50 $6.50

-26.46%

Onion (1kg)

$6.20 $6.20

$6.45 $6.45

-3.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.35 $9.35

27.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.17 $16.17

$15.55 $15.55

3.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.70 $1.70

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$3.68 $3.68

-55.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 $51.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.19 $8.19

$3.96 $3.96

106.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.03 $2.03

-10.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.25 $15.25

$25.15 $25.15

-39.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.91 $0.91

39.56%

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)

$29.95 $29.95

$52.1 $52.1

-42.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$102 $102

-41.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.7 $91.7

$70.4 $70.4

30.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 $7.43

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 $9.06

$15.24 $15.24

-40.55%

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

$1,180 $1,180

$1,421 $1,421

-17.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$29.7K $29.7K

-45.19%

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)

$2,415 $2,415

$1,980 $1,980

21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,006 $2,006

$1,406 $1,406

42.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,236 $5,236

$3,024 $3,024

73.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,710 $4,710

$2,619 $2,619

79.86%

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)

$1,981 $1,981

$4,624 $4,624

-57.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.05

3.31%

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

Last update for Lihue, HI: August 31, 2026

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,415 in Lihue, HI and $1,980 in Charlottesville, VA. 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: $112 in Lihue, HI vs $100 in Charlottesville, VA. Groceries flip the comparison at $520 vs $524, 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

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

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

On paper, salaries run 133% lower in Charlottesville, VA. 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: $2,415 in Lihue, HI versus $1,980 in Charlottesville, VA. 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 $3,190 per month in Lihue, HI versus $2,914 in Charlottesville, VA – 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, 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 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.