CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Lubbock, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
TX
Lubbock
91.3
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than Lubbock — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $82,300 in Lubbock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+48.6%
Charleston
51.4
Lubbock
76.4
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Charleston
96.3
Lubbock
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.5%
Charleston
104.8
Lubbock
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.6%
Charleston
94.8
Lubbock
91.4
Utilities9.7%
Charleston
91.7
Lubbock
82.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lubbock, TX
$82,300
$2,300 more needed in Lubbock

Formula: salary × (91.3 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.0293. 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×

Lubbock, TX

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
76.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Lubbock has 48.6% 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

Lubbock, TX

Median Household Income
$57,100
Per Capita Income
$32,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
258,862
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturingGovernment

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)

Lubbock, TX
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.