Cost of Living in Charleston, WV
| Cost of Living in Charleston, WV | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 25% lower | 40% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% higher | 4% lower |
| Food | 6% higher | 0% |
| Healthcare | 9% higher | 0% |
| Transportation | 11% lower | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 6% lower |
The cost of living in Charleston, WV is 6% lower than the state average and 14% lower than the national average. Charleston, WV housing is 40% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in Charleston, WV than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 0% here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% cheaper in Charleston, WV.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Charleston is $1,381, while home prices circle around $270,042.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Charleston, energy bills cost around $189.79 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.83 in Charleston, a dozen eggs go for around $4.45 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.05.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Charleston, an optometry check-up costs around $175.75, while a dentist appointment is priced $104.44 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.25 in Charleston, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $52.00.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $38.98 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $30.11.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Charleston, you should budget around $12.29 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $19.83, while dry cleaning costs about $19.40.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Charleston, the median household income is $64,512.