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Charlottesville, VA

Cost of living in Albemarle County, VA

Part of the Charlottesville Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,741/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 113,683 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,487 40%
Federal tax $685 18%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $355 9%
Transport $250 7%
State tax $227 6%
Energy $202 5%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Albemarle County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,404
per month
1 bedroom
$1,487
per month
2 bedroom
$1,729
per month
3 bedroom
$2,155
per month
4 bedroom
$2,621
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Albemarle County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$102,617
per year
Individual earnings
$51,922
per year
Per capita
$57,490
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Albemarle County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$471,000
Annual property tax
$3,482

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Albemarle County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$153
per month · 14.6¢/kWh
Natural gas
$49
per month
Annual total
$2,424
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Albemarle County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Albemarle County

State and local tax rates for Virginia.

State income tax
5.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.3%
Combined sales tax
5.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Albemarle County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
22.2 min
Drive alone
66.2%
Public transit
1.5%
Work from home
20.2%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Albemarle County

What it costs to live in Albemarle County each month.

Single person
$3,741
per month
  • Rent $1,487
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $685
  • State tax $227
Couple
$5,658
per month
  • Rent $1,729
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,350
  • State tax $470
Family
$8,246
per month
  • Rent $2,155
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,350
  • State tax $470

Frequently asked questions about Albemarle County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Albemarle County?

In Albemarle County, VA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,487 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,729 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,155 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Albemarle County?

In Albemarle County, VA, the average household income is $102,617 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $51,922 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Albemarle County?

The estimated cost of living in Albemarle County, VA is approximately $3,741 per month for a single person, $5,658 for a couple, $8,246 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Albemarle County?

The combined sales tax rate in Albemarle County, VA is 5.75%, which includes the Virginia state rate of 5.30% plus an average local rate of 0.45%.

Is Albemarle County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Albemarle County, VA would need approximately $3,741 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $102,617 per year ($8,551 per month). Albemarle County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Albemarle County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Albemarle County, VA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Albemarle County?

The average home value in Albemarle County, VA is $471,000, with average annual property taxes of $3,482, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Albemarle County compare to other areas?

You can compare Albemarle County, VA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Albemarle County is in the Charlottesville, VA metro area.

Other counties in Virginia

Browse the full list of counties in Virginia, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Virginia

Compare Albemarle County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources