Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Burlington, VT versus $860 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 6% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Charleston, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$630
+51% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$668
+48% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$980
+43% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,139
+43% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$187,300
+53% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$64,512
+6% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$45,830
+24% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
42.6 yr
+15.9 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
39.8%
62.8%
+23.0 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
44.1%
+16.4 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
17.9 min
+1.3 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
542.7
+9% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,148
+29% in Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
46.0°F
55.7°F
+9.7°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
44.0 in
+7.2 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
16.8
+33% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$24.68
+22% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / WV)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
4.82%
+3.9 pp in VT

Burlington vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Charleston?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $27,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Charleston?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).