Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$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 Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 14% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$630
$825
+31% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$668
$870
+30% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,000
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,237
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$271,400
+45% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$74,714
+16% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$47,970
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
35.1 yr
+7.5 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
60.0%
+2.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
37.4%
+6.7 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
17.0 min
+0.9 min in Charleston, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
526.7
+3% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
2,927.1
+7% 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
45.8°F
+9.9°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
26.4 in
+17.7 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.7
+6% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$10.95
+56% in Charleston, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD
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 / SD)
6%
4.2%
+1.8 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
None
+4.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Sioux Falls?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Sioux Falls?
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 Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Sioux Falls?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).