Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 22% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$630
$998
+58% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,305
+95% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,504
+53% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,881
+65% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$420,700
+125% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$83,198
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$52,710
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
35.6 yr
+7.0 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
61.3%
+1.5 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
41.9%
+2.2 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
22.8 min
+4.9 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
722.1
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,148
3,488.7
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+6.7°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
16.5 in
+27.5 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.25/gal
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.2
+4% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$11.92
+52% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.40%
+0.4 pp in WV

Charleston vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Colorado Springs?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Colorado Springs?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).