Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,030 in Norman, OK. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 1% higher in Norman, OK. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$630
$820
+30% in Norman, OK
1 Bedroom
$668
$863
+29% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,056
+8% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,377
+21% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$239,300
+28% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$65,060
+1% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$47,230
+3% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
31.6 yr
+11.0 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
52.7%
+10.1 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
46.2%
+2.1 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
17.9 min
22.2 min
+4.3 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
268.6
+51% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
2,294.1
+27% 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
61.5°F
+5.8°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
36.5 in
+7.5 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Norman, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
13.4
+20% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$27.15
+10% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.50%
+0.3 pp in WV

Charleston vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Norman?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Norman, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Norman?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).