Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 2% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,085
+31% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,191
+17% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,333
+21% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,723
+17% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$377,300
+20% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$88,604
+2% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$55,240
+12% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
30.3 yr
+5.8 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
71.1%
+15.5 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
15.7%
+42.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
22.2 min
+1.6 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
471.8
+31% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
2,035.1
1,855.5
+9% in Charleston, SC

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
52.8°F
+13.9°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
16.1 in
+28.3 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
13.4
+14% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$11.84
+59% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in SC

Charleston vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or West Valley City?
West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or West Valley City?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).