CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Morgantown is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 7.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $73,900 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing42.3%
Charleston
119.8
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charleston
96.3
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Charleston
103.2
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Charleston
93.4
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities+4.9%
Charleston
88.2
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charleston to see what you'd need to earn in Morgantown to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$73,900
$6,100 less needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9238. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Morgantown, WV

Median Home Price
$215,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
69.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Charleston has 42.3% lower housing costs compared to Morgantown.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Morgantown, WV

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
31,073
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareEnergyTechnologyGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Morgantown, WV
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.