Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $850 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 17% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Bismarck vs Charleston — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Charleston?
- Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Bismarck, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Charleston?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $27,000 in Charleston.
- Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Charleston?
- Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).