Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $860 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 28% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$630
+60% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$668
+53% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$980
+42% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,139
+45% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$187,300
+60% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$64,512
+28% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$45,830
+7% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
42.6 yr
+6.5 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
55.6%
62.8%
+7.2 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
44.1%
+13.6 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
17.9 min
+5.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
542.7
+51% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,148
+55% 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
66.7°F
55.7°F
+11.0°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
44.0 in
+0.4 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
16.8
+4% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$24.68
+10% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / WV)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.82%
+1.2 pp in SC

Charleston vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Charleston?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $27,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Charleston?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).