CostIndexUSA

Arlington, TX vs Charleston, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Arlington
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Charleston is moderately cheaper than Arlington — 14.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Arlington, you would need $68,800 in Charleston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing56.4%
Arlington
117.9
Charleston
51.4
🛒 Groceries6.3%
Arlington
102.8
Charleston
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Arlington
104.7
Charleston
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Arlington
94.7
Charleston
94.8
Utilities+1.1%
Arlington
90.7
Charleston
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charleston, WV
$68,800
$11,200 less needed in Charleston

Formula: salary × (88.7 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.8603. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Arlington, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Charleston, WV

Median Home Price
$143,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
51.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Arlington has 56.4% lower housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Arlington, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
394,266
Top Industries
EntertainmentManufacturingTechnologyHealthcareFinance

Charleston, WV

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
47,068
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEnergyFinanceEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Arlington, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Charleston, WV
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.