Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Gulfport?

Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Gulfport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Gulfport.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Gulfport?

Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Gulfport Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

West Virginia

$850/mo est.

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $850 in Charleston, WV versus $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 29% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV

Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio

$630

$958

+52% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$668

$849

+27% in Gulfport, MS

2 Bedroom

$980

$990

+1% in Gulfport, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,139

$1,171

+3% in Gulfport, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$187,300

$167,100

+11% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income

$64,512

$46,044

+29% in Charleston, WV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,830

$43,470

+5% in Charleston, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

36.7 yr

+5.9 yr in Charleston, WV

Homeownership

62.8%

53.1%

+9.7 pp in Charleston, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.1%

22.3%

+21.8 pp in Charleston, WV

Avg Commute

17.9 min

21.8 min

+3.9 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

542.7

623.5

+15% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,148

3,881.3

+23% in Gulfport, MS

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

67.6°F

+11.9°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

44.0 in

64.7 in

+20.7 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Charleston, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.9

+4% in Charleston, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$29.04

+18% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / MS)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

4.00%

+0.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Gulfport?: Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Gulfport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Gulfport?: Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).