Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $860 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 34% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Charleston, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$630
+37% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$668
+37% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$980
+32% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,139
+42% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$187,300
+50% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$64,512
+34% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$45,830
+24% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
42.6 yr
+7.7 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
63.7%
62.8%
+0.9 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
44.1%
+6.4 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
19.0 min
17.9 min
+1.1 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
542.7
+47% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
3,148
+13% 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
37.4°F
55.7°F
+18.3°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
44.0 in
+26.1 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
16.8
+40% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$24.68
+71% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WV)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.82%
+4.8 pp in WV

Anchorage vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Charleston?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $27,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Charleston?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).