Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$850/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $850 in Charleston, WV versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 14% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$630
$864
+37% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$668
$831
+24% in Montgomery, AL
2 Bedroom
$980
$982
+0% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,172
+3% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$148,500
+21% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$55,687
+14% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$44,950
+2% in Charleston, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
36.2 yr
+6.4 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
54.3%
+8.5 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
33.5%
+10.6 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
20.5 min
+2.6 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
605.5
+12% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
3,148
2,258.3
+28% 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
65.1°F
+9.4°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
53.1 in
+9.0 in in Montgomery, AL

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
16.4
+6% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$24.06
+3% in Charleston, WV

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 / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
5.00%
+0.2 pp in AL

Charleston vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Montgomery?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Montgomery, AL's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Montgomery?
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 Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Montgomery?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).