Is Charleston expensive to live in?

Charleston is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $668 per month ranks #112 of 112 and is 38% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Charleston?

Average rent in Charleston, WV runs a studio around $630, a one-bedroom around $668, a two-bedroom around $980, a three-bedroom around $1,139 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Charleston?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $668 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,512.

How much does it cost to live in Charleston per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Charleston is about $860 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Charleston, WV

Population 47,918 · West Virginia

~$860/mo est.1BR $668Home $187,300

Compare with:

The cost of living in Charleston, WV is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $668 a month — 38% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $630 and two-bedrooms $980.

Median household income here is $64,512, 7% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $860 before food and transport. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $668

Studio

$630

1 Bedroom

$668

2 Bedroom

$980

3 Bedroom

$1,139

Buying a Home$187,300

Median Home Value

$187,300

Income$64,512

Median Household Income

$64,512

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,830

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.8¢/kWh

Electricity

16.8¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$24.68/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (WV)6% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.82%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime542.7 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

542.7

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,148

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Charleston Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 42.6 yrs

Median Age

42.6 yrs

Homeownership

62.8%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.1%

Avg Commute

17.9 min

Climate55.7°F

Avg Annual Temperature

55.7°F

Annual Precipitation

44.0 in

Charleston cost of living — FAQ

Is Charleston expensive to live in?: Charleston is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $668 per month ranks #112 of 112 and is 38% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Charleston?: Average rent in Charleston, WV runs a studio around $630, a one-bedroom around $668, a two-bedroom around $980, a three-bedroom around $1,139 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Charleston?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $668 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,512.
How much does it cost to live in Charleston per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Charleston is about $860 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Charleston with nearby cities

Charleston vs Columbus Charleston vs Lexington Charleston vs Cincinnati Charleston vs Pittsburgh Charleston vs Cleveland Charleston vs Charlotte

Nearby cities

Columbus, OH 133 mi Lexington, KY 157 mi Cincinnati, OH 164 mi Pittsburgh, PA 169 mi Cleveland, OH 218 mi Charlotte, NC 220 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.