Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Albuquerque, NM versus $860 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 2% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Charleston, WV

Rent

Studio
$797
$630
+21% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$668
+25% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$980
+14% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,139
+22% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$187,300
+30% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$64,512
+2% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$45,830
+5% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
42.6 yr
+3.9 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
61.5%
62.8%
+1.3 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
44.1%
+5.4 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
22.2 min
17.9 min
+4.3 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
542.7
+55% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
3,148
+34% in Albuquerque, NM

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
55.7°F
+1.5°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
44.0 in
+34.6 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Charleston, WV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.8
+19% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$24.68
+107% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / WV)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
4.82%
+1.1 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Charleston?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $27,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Charleston?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).