Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$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 St. Louis, MO. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 14% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$630
$864
+37% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$668
$866
+30% in St. Louis, MO
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,109
+13% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,135
+0% in Charleston, WV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$185,100
+1% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$55,279
+14% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$49,990
+9% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
36.6 yr
+6.0 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
45.4%
+17.4 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
40.2%
+3.9 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
22.2 min
+4.3 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
1,372.9
+153% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,148
5,794.9
+84% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
40.9 in
+3.1 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in St. Louis, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
13.7
+19% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$24.13
+2% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
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 / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.70%
+0.1 pp in WV

Charleston vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or St. Louis?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in St. Louis?
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 St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or St. Louis?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).