Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 22% higher in Raleigh, NC. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,301
+107% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,323
+98% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,462
+49% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,715
+51% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$377,800
+102% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$82,424
+28% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$51,990
+13% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
34.7 yr
+7.9 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
51.2%
+11.6 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
52.9%
+8.8 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
17.9 min
23.4 min
+5.5 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
491.5
+9% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
2,838.4
+10% 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
60.6°F
+4.9°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
46.0 in
+2.0 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.1
+10% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$27.56
+12% in Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.99%
+0.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Raleigh?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Raleigh?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).