Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Charleston?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Charleston, WV's $850, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Charleston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $27,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Charleston?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Charleston under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Charleston

West Virginia

$850/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $850 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 1% higher in Charleston, WV. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Charleston, WV

Rent

Studio

$529

$630

+19% in Charleston, WV

1 Bedroom

$576

$668

+16% in Charleston, WV

2 Bedroom

$824

$980

+19% in Charleston, WV

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,139

+23% in Charleston, WV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$187,300

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$64,512

+1% in Charleston, WV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$45,830

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

42.6 yr

+6.8 yr in Charleston, WV

Homeownership

58.4%

62.8%

+4.4 pp in Charleston, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

44.1%

+10.5 pp in Charleston, WV

Avg Commute

11.1 min

17.9 min

+6.8 min in Charleston, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

542.7

+97% in Charleston, WV

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,148

+122% in Charleston, WV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

43.0°F

55.7°F

+12.7°F in Charleston, WV

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

44.0 in

+22.3 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Charleston, WV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

+1% in Charleston, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$24.68

+62% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Charleston, WV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Aberdeen, SD

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / WV)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.82%

+4.8 pp in WV

Aberdeen vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Charleston?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Charleston, WV's $850, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $27,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Charleston?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Charleston under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).