CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Sioux City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Sioux City is slightly cheaper than Charleston — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $78,000 in Sioux City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+12.5%
Charleston
51.4
Sioux City
57.8
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Charleston
96.3
Sioux City
94
🚗 Transportation7.1%
Charleston
104.8
Sioux City
97.4
🏥 Healthcare7.1%
Charleston
94.8
Sioux City
88.1
Utilities9.8%
Charleston
91.7
Sioux City
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux City, IA
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Sioux City

Formula: salary × (86.5 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 0.9752. 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×

Sioux City, IA

Median Home Price
$211,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
57.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Sioux City has 12.5% 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

Sioux City, IA

Median Household Income
$70,700
Per Capita Income
$40,300
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
82,684
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingAgricultureRetailEducation

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)

Sioux City, IA
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.