CostIndexUSA

Aurora, IL vs Charleston, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Aurora
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Charleston is moderately cheaper than Aurora — 14.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $68,500 in Charleston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing54.1%
Aurora
112
Charleston
51.4
🛒 Groceries10.3%
Aurora
107.3
Charleston
96.3
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Aurora
105.5
Charleston
104.8
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Aurora
95.5
Charleston
94.8
Utilities+9.7%
Aurora
83.6
Charleston
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charleston, WV
$68,500
$11,500 less needed in Charleston

Formula: salary × (88.7 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.8562. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, IL

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
112
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Charleston, WV

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

Aurora has 54.1% lower housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, IL

Median Household Income
$87,100
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
197,899
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

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).

Aurora, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.