Charlottesville, VA vs Williamsburg, VA

Williamsburg is moderately more affordable than Charlottesville, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Charlottesville scores 115 compared to 108 for Williamsburg, 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 $1,361/month in Williamsburg — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Williamsburg is more affordable at $393,200 median vs $448,400.

Median household income in Charlottesville is $69,829 compared to $70,206 in Williamsburg (-0.5%). Williamsburg 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, more than the 23.3% in Williamsburg.