Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 33% 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
Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,085
+72% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$668
$816
+22% in Jackson, MS
2 Bedroom
$980
$991
+1% in Jackson, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,121
+2% in Charleston, WV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$108,200
+42% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$43,238
+33% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$42,850
+7% in Charleston, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
34.7 yr
+7.9 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
48.6%
+14.2 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
28.6%
+15.5 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
20.2 min
+2.3 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
—
Property Crime
3,148
—

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
65.3°F
+9.6°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
54.3 in
+10.3 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Charleston, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.2
+4% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$27.68
+12% in Jackson, MS

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 / MS)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.00%
+0.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Jackson?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Jackson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Jackson?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Jackson 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).