Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Green Bay, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 3% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio
$630
$707
+12% in Green Bay, WI
1 Bedroom
$668
$730
+9% in Green Bay, WI
2 Bedroom
$980
$956
+2% in Charleston, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,287
+13% in Green Bay, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$191,500
+2% in Green Bay, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$62,546
+3% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$49,940
+9% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
35.7 yr
+6.9 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
55.9%
+6.9 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
25.5%
+18.6 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
18.9 min
+1.0 min in Green Bay, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
501.7
+8% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
1,331.2
+58% in Charleston, WV

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
44.3°F
+11.4°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
29.5 in
+14.5 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Green Bay, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
19.7
+17% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$11.79
+52% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Green Bay, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Green Bay, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Green Bay, WI
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 / WI)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
7.65%
+2.8 pp in WI

Charleston vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Green Bay?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Green Bay, WI's $920, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Green Bay?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Green Bay?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% 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).