CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
AR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than Little Rock — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $80,600 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+32.9%
Charleston
51.4
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries2.8%
Charleston
96.3
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation4.5%
Charleston
104.8
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare4.5%
Charleston
94.8
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities18.6%
Charleston
91.7
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$80,600
$600 more needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.0079. 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×

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Little Rock has 32.9% 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

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

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)

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.