Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Shreveport, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 25% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$630
$756
+20% in Shreveport, LA
1 Bedroom
$668
$843
+26% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$980
$978
+0% in Charleston, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,136
+0% in Charleston, WV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$178,100
+5% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$48,465
+25% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$44,820
+2% in Charleston, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
37.5 yr
+5.1 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
53.8%
+9.0 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
27.5%
+16.6 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
19.0 min
+1.1 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
1,235.4
+128% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
3,148
4,048.2
+29% in Shreveport, LA

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
65.5°F
+9.8°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
51.0 in
+6.9 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Charleston, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
14.2
+16% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$16.62
+33% 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 / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.00%
+1.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Shreveport?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Shreveport, LA's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Shreveport?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).