CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Flint, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
MI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than Flint — 4.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $83,900 in Flint. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+44.0%
Charleston
51.4
Flint
74
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Charleston
96.3
Flint
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Charleston
104.8
Flint
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charleston
94.8
Flint
94.6
Utilities+5.9%
Charleston
91.7
Flint
97.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Flint, MI
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Flint

Formula: salary × (93 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.0485. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, WV

Median Home Price
$143,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
51.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Flint has 44.0% higher housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, WV

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
47,068
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEnergyFinanceEducation

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charleston, WV
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.