Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 20% 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
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$630
$841
+33% in Milwaukee, WI
1 Bedroom
$668
$849
+27% in Milwaukee, WI
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,031
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,193
+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$172,000
+8% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$51,888
+20% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$51,160
+12% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
32.2 yr
+10.4 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
41.5%
+21.3 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
26.6%
+17.5 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
22.4 min
+4.5 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
1,452.3
+168% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
3,148
2,772.2
+12% 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
47.9°F
+7.8°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
34.8 in
+9.3 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
19.7
+17% in Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Milwaukee?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Milwaukee?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Milwaukee 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).