CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Visalia, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
CA
Visalia
99.8
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Charleston is moderately cheaper than Visalia — 12.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $90,000 in Visalia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+63.6%
Charleston
51.4
Visalia
84.1
🛒 Groceries+9.2%
Charleston
96.3
Visalia
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Charleston
104.8
Visalia
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charleston
94.8
Visalia
95.3
Utilities+70.6%
Charleston
91.7
Visalia
156.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Visalia, CA
$90,000
$10,000 more needed in Visalia

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.1251. 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×

Visalia, CA

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
84.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Visalia has 63.6% 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

Visalia, CA

Median Household Income
$73,100
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
8.2%
Population
141,384
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Visalia, CA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.