Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Evansville

Indiana

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $950 in Evansville, IN. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Evansville, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $52,251 in Evansville, IN — about 19% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Evansville, IN

Rent

Studio
$630
$741
+18% in Evansville, IN
1 Bedroom
$668
$768
+15% in Evansville, IN
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,022
+4% in Evansville, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,167
+2% in Evansville, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$129,100
+31% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$52,251
+19% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$46,540
+2% in Evansville, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
38.1 yr
+4.5 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
53.9%
+8.9 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
22.3%
+21.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
18.7 min
+0.8 min in Evansville, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
1,210.5
+123% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,148
3,716.2
+18% in Evansville, IN

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
56.4°F
+0.7°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
45.3 in
+1.3 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Evansville, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
18.1
+8% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$13.70
+44% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Evansville, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Evansville, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Evansville, IN
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 / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
2.95%
+1.9 pp in WV

Charleston vs Evansville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Evansville?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Evansville, IN's $950, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Evansville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $31,000 in Evansville.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Evansville?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).