Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 52% 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
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$762
+52% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$758
+47% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$881
+48% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,121
+46% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$118,800
+75% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$43,146
+52% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$44,600
+9% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.9 yr
+1.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
52.5%
+3.1 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
34.5%
+23.2 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
18.6 min
+5.2 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
800.3
+123% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,617.9
+78% in Huntington, 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
42.6 in
+1.8 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.4
+1% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$24.68
+15% 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 Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Huntington?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntington 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).