What is the cost of living in Charles Town, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Charles Town has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Charles Town has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Charles Town ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Charles Town ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Charles Town, check out:
Charles Town Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Charles Town. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Charles Town is 102.
The Groceries index in Charles Town is 103.
The Health index in Charles Town is 132.
The Housing index in Charles Town is 102.
The Transportation index in Charles Town is 103.
The Utilities index in Charles Town is 107.
| Living Expense | Charles Town | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 132 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 93 | 100 |
Charles Town Cost Of Living Compared To West Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around West Virginia, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In West Virginia
- Most Affordable Cities In West Virginia
- Average Rent In West Virginia
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Charles Town, WV Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in West Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Charles Town is $400,662.
The Median Rent in Charles Town is $1,115.
The Median Income in Charles Town is $89,263.
The Home Value To Income in Charles Town is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Charles Town is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Charles Town | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $400,662 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,115 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $89,263 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Charles Town, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Charles Town Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Charles Town | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.51 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.83 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $70.08 | $45.56 |
Detailed Charles Town Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Charles Town | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.56 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.1 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Charles Town Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Charles Town | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.03 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Charles Town Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Charles Town | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Charles Town Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Charles Town | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.37 | $192.25 |
