Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 3% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Houston, TX

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,142
+81% in Houston, TX
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,156
+73% in Houston, TX
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,375
+40% in Houston, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,664
+46% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$253,400
+35% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$62,894
+3% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$49,410
+8% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
34.3 yr
+8.3 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
42.0%
+20.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
36.0%
+8.1 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
27.3 min
+9.4 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
1,153.8
+113% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
3,148
4,324.9
+37% in Houston, TX

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
70.3°F
+14.6°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
54.6 in
+10.6 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.52/gal
+9% in Charleston, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Houston METRO (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.4
+2% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$30.48
+24% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
None
+4.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Houston?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Houston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Houston?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).