Charlottesville, VA vs Laurel, VA

Laurel is moderately more affordable than Charlottesville, with a 13.1% lower cost of living index. Charlottesville scores 115 compared to 102 for Laurel, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Charlottesville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Charlottesville is $1,453/month compared to $1,497/month in Laurel — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charlottesville has cheaper rent, Laurel actually has lower median home values ($272,300 vs $448,400).

Median household income in Charlottesville is $69,829 compared to $69,932 in Laurel (-0.1%). Laurel offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Charlottesville spend roughly 25% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in Laurel.