Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $860 in Charleston, WV versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 14% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,103
+75% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$668
$1,024
+53% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,213
+24% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,394
+22% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$224,500
+20% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$55,269
+14% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$54,310
+19% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
37.0 yr
+5.6 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
46.0%
+16.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
33.1%
+11.0 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
23.0 min
+5.1 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
1,138.2
+110% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,148
3,182.4
+1% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+0.8°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
43.1 in
+1.0 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
19.4
+15% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$22.51
+9% 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 / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
6.60%
+1.8 pp in DE

Charleston vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Wilmington?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Wilmington?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).