Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,490 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 14% higher in Chicago, IL. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,186
+88% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,258
+88% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,406
+43% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,554
+36% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$315,200
+68% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$75,134
+16% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$54,720
+19% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
35.7 yr
+6.9 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
45.5%
+17.3 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
43.3%
+0.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
33.5 min
+15.6 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
539.8
+1% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
3,489.9
+11% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.7°F
52.7°F
+3.0°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
38.0 in
+6.1 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.29/gal
+11% in Chicago, IL

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
23.9
+42% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$15.39
+38% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.95%
+0.1 pp in IL

Charleston vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Chicago?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Chicago?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).