Cost of living in Charleston, WV Livability score 77 · cost-of-living index 89.1 (US = 100)
How Charleston compares Where Charleston falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $149k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $149k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $88 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $88 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.65% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.65% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 280 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 280 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 84° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 84° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 26° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 26° Map of Charleston Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.1 #17 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.3 #66 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.07 #17 of 200 Median household income $54,473 #193 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,324 #138 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.76% #142 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +17.3% #5 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $148,817 #1 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 2.7× #2 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.0% #136 of 200 Price per square foot $88 #1 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,701 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,265 #20 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 616 Median days on market 14 #76 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.55% #46 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.12% Capital gains tax 5.12% #121 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.65% #43 of 200 Median property tax paid $817 #7 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,200 #139 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 #25 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $60 #19 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.66% of value (~$465/yr) #163 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min #110 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 16.1¢/kWh #70 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $145 #70 of 200 Gasoline $3.30/gal #94 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,700 #80 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 40 #40 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 900 #66 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,900 #125 of 200 Avg summer high 84°F #37 of 200 Avg winter low 26°F #119 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 280 #21 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,900 #63 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.