States › Virginia › University of Virginia

Is University of Virginia, VA expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 32 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,48915% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$56,671about $4,723/month · 35% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$442,60033% higher than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 58% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.8 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are short, about 16.6 minutes. Most households rent (84%), so there are plenty of rental options. It is a highly educated city: 66.7% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $59,560 a year. That is $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Virginia. It is number 48 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

University of Virginia
$1,489
$2,217
$1,151
$2,316

How much do households earn in University of Virginia?

Under $25k
15.0%
$25k–50k
27.5%
$50k–100k
26.7%
$100k–150k
7.4%
$150k+
10.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 17.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in University of Virginia

SizeUniversity of VirginiaU.S. average
Studio$1,190$1,338
1 bedroom$1,358$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,577$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,830$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is University of Virginia overall?

Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
107
Goods (food, clothes…)
100
Utilities
92
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for University of Virginia, so the Virginia figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in University of Virginia

🏛️ Property tax$3,234a year · 0.73% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$116a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in University of Virginia

Commute to work16.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree66.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home15.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line23.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment10.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in University of Virginia?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,582 a month less.

Renting
$1,489
Owning
$3,071

Owning assumes a typical $442,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $44,260 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in University of Virginia, VA?

Renting in University of Virginia costs a median of about $1,489 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.

How much do I need to make to live in University of Virginia?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $59,560 a year, or $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is University of Virginia cheap or expensive?

University of Virginia is rated Expensive: rent takes 31.5% of the typical household income of $56,671. It ranks 48th cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.

How much are property taxes in University of Virginia?

The median homeowner in University of Virginia pays $3,234 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of the median home value.

Is University of Virginia more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Virginia are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in University of Virginia?

The median home value in University of Virginia is $442,600, about 7.8 times the typical yearly household income.

9,065 people live in University of Virginia. Numbers are typical (middle) values.