CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Kahului, HI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
HI
Kahului
109.4
overall index
$3,525/mo rent

Charleston is significantly cheaper than Kahului — 23.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $98,700 in Kahului. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+131.9%
Charleston
51.4
Kahului
119.2
🛒 Groceries+15.9%
Charleston
96.3
Kahului
111.6
🚗 Transportation+3.1%
Charleston
104.8
Kahului
108
🏥 Healthcare+3.2%
Charleston
94.8
Kahului
97.8
Utilities+107.9%
Charleston
91.7
Kahului
190.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kahului, HI
$98,700
$18,700 more needed in Kahului

Formula: salary × (109.4 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.2334. 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×

Kahului, HI

Median Home Price
$989,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,525
Housing Index
119.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.4×

Kahului has 131.9% 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

Kahului, HI

Median Household Income
$83,700
Per Capita Income
$47,700
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
26,337
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareRetailAgricultureGovernment

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)

Kahului, HI
2.0×income-to-rent ratio

49% 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.