Charlottesville, VA at a glance
Median household income
$74,824$6,235 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Charlottesville, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Charlottesville, VA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Charlottesville, VA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,421 | $17,052 | $56,840 | 22.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,602 | $19,224 | $64,080 | 25.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,824 | $21,888 | $72,960 | 29.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,218 | $26,616 | $88,720 | 35.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,731 | $32,772 | $109,240 | 43.8% |
Rent in Charlottesville, VA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Charlottesville, VA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $74,824 a year ($6,235 a month before tax).
What $74,824 leaves after Virginia taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Virginia tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Virginia
Living in Charlottesville, VA: common questions
What is the median household income in Charlottesville, VA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Charlottesville, VA is $74,824 per year (approximately $6,235 per month).
What is the average rent in Charlottesville, VA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,421 for a studio, $1,602 for one bedroom, $1,824 for two, $2,218 for three and $2,731 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Charlottesville, VA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 0.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 99.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Charlottesville, VA?
To keep a $1,824 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $72,960 a year, or $6,080 a month. That is 98% of what the typical household in Charlottesville, VA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Charlottesville, VA?
On the local median income of $74,824 ($6,235 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,118 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,871 for everything else and $1,247 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,824 takes 59% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Charlottesville, VA?
Homes in Virginia paid 17.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $155. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.