Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 29% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,496
+137% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,357
+103% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,559
+59% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,857
+63% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$366,300
+96% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$90,685
+41% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$49,430
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
37.4 yr
+5.2 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
64.9%
+2.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
40.4%
+3.7 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
23.2 min
+5.3 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
96.9
+82% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
3,148
1,664.9
+47% 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
59.9°F
+4.2°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
44.3 in
+0.3 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
17.6
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$23.66
+4% 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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
5.75%
+0.9 pp in VA

Charleston vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Virginia Beach?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Virginia Beach?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).