What is the cost of living in South Charleston, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Charleston has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, South Charleston has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in South Charleston ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies South Charleston ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in South Charleston, check out:
South Charleston Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Charleston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Charleston is 98.
The Groceries index in South Charleston is 94.
The Health index in South Charleston is 69.
The Housing index in South Charleston is 96.
The Transportation index in South Charleston is 98.
The Utilities index in South Charleston is 95.
| Living Expense | South Charleston | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 93 | 100 |
South Charleston 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
South Charleston, 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 South Charleston is $167,047.
The Median Rent in South Charleston is $844.
The Median Income in South Charleston is $63,884.
The Home Value To Income in South Charleston is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Charleston is 0.16x.
| Statistic | South Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $167,047 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $844 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,884 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
South Charleston, WV Costs By Category
Detailed South Charleston Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | South Charleston | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.18 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.41 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed South Charleston Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | South Charleston | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.57 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.19 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.56 | $3.7 |
Detailed South Charleston Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | South Charleston | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $172.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $158.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Charleston Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | South Charleston | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Charleston Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | South Charleston | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $189.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.09 | $192.25 |
South Charleston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Charleston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Charleston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charleston, WV has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x South Charleston.
Teays Valley, WV has a cost of living index of 102, 1.2x South Charleston.
St. Albans, WV has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x South Charleston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 47,421 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Teays Valley, WV | 14,151 | 102 | 1.2x |
| St. Albans, WV | 10,522 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Cross Lanes, WV | 9,671 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Dunbar, WV | 7,254 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Hurricane, WV | 6,855 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Nitro, WV | 6,853 | 83 | 1.0x |
