Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 2% higher in Fargo, ND. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio
$630
$671
+7% in Fargo, ND
1 Bedroom
$668
$804
+20% in Fargo, ND
2 Bedroom
$980
$956
+2% in Charleston, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,368
+20% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$269,800
+44% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$66,029
+2% in Fargo, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$51,050
+11% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
32.2 yr
+10.4 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
44.1%
+18.7 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
43.2%
+0.9 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
15.8 min
+2.1 min in Charleston, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
504.9
+7% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
3,726.4
+18% in Fargo, ND

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
42.4°F
+13.3°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
22.6 in
+21.5 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Fargo, ND

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
13.6
+19% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$11.39
+54% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fargo, ND
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fargo, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fargo, ND
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fargo, ND
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 / ND)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
2.50%
+2.3 pp in WV

Charleston vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Fargo?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Fargo, ND's $940, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Fargo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Fargo?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).