What is the cost of living in University of Virginia, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, University of Virginia has an overall cost of living index of 128, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, University of Virginia has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in University of Virginia ranks as #98 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies University of Virginia ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in University of Virginia, check out:
University of Virginia Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in University of Virginia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in University of Virginia is 104.
The Groceries index in University of Virginia is 105.
The Health index in University of Virginia is 180.
The Housing index in University of Virginia is 102.
The Transportation index in University of Virginia is 107.
The Utilities index in University of Virginia is 103.
| Living Expense | University of Virginia | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 180 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
University of Virginia Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in University of Virginia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
University of Virginia, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in University of Virginia is $475,782.
The Median Rent in University of Virginia is $1,421.
The Median Income in University of Virginia is $52,546.
The Home Value To Income in University of Virginia is 9.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in University of Virginia is 0.32x.
| Statistic | University of Virginia | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $475,782 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,421 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,546 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.1x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
University of Virginia, VA Costs By Category
Detailed University of Virginia Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | University of Virginia | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.71 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.32 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.97 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.19 | $45.56 |
Detailed University of Virginia Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | University of Virginia | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.34 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.33 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.67 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed University of Virginia Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | University of Virginia | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $121.84 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $168.85 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $135.19 | $113.29 |
Detailed University of Virginia Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | University of Virginia | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.49 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.76 | $59.92 |
Detailed University of Virginia Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | University of Virginia | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.35 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
University Of Virginia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around University of Virginia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around University of Virginia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Harrisonburg, VA has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x University of Virginia.
Charlottesville, VA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x University of Virginia.
Staunton, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 0.8x University of Virginia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. University of Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | 51,392 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Charlottesville, VA | 45,437 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Staunton, VA | 25,948 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Waynesboro, VA | 22,841 | 99 | 0.8x |
| Stuarts Draft, VA | 11,780 | 106 | 0.8x |
| Lake Monticello, VA | 10,662 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Crozet, VA | 9,289 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Hollymead, VA | 8,482 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Lake of the Woods, VA | 7,984 | 119 | 0.9x |








