Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$850/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $850 in Charleston, WV versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 34% higher in South Burlington, VT. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,557
+147% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,533
+129% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,805
+84% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$2,356
+107% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$399,600
+113% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$97,229
+51% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$60,020
+31% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
38.8 yr
+3.8 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
60.1%
+2.7 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
65.1%
+21.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
17.9 min
18.9 min
+1.0 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
239.4
+56% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
4,446
+41% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+9.7°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
36.8 in
+7.2 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
24.4
+58% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$26.07
+6% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in South Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
8.75%
+3.9 pp in VT

Charleston vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or South Burlington?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or South Burlington?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).