Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 1% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$630
$870
+38% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$668
$870
+30% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,099
+12% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,334
+17% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$183,700
+2% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$63,966
+1% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$51,820
+13% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
34.6 yr
+8.0 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
60.4%
+2.4 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
29.0%
+15.1 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
19.6 min
+1.7 min in Des Moines, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
707.3
+30% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,148
3,156.6
+0% in Des Moines, IA

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
50.9°F
+4.8°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
36.0 in
+8.0 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Des Moines, IA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
14.1
+16% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$15.72
+36% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Des Moines, IA
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 / IA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.80%
+1.0 pp in WV

Charleston vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Des Moines?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Des Moines, IA's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Des Moines?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Des Moines under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).