Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 26% higher in Rochester, MN. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,080
+71% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,106
+66% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,243
+27% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,646
+45% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$287,500
+53% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$87,767
+36% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$60,620
+32% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
36.4 yr
+6.2 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
65.4%
+2.6 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
50.1%
+6.0 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
17.9 min
17.2 min
+0.7 min in Charleston, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
158.9
+71% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
1,379
+56% 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
45.4°F
+10.3°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
33.0 in
+11.0 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.9
+1% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$14.95
+39% in Charleston, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rochester, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Rochester, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Rochester, MN
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 / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
9.85%
+5.0 pp in MN

Charleston vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Rochester?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Rochester?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).