CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IN vs Charleston, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Bloomington
95.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Charleston is moderately cheaper than Bloomington — 6.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $74,600 in Charleston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing40.0%
Bloomington
85.6
Charleston
51.4
🛒 Groceries+2.1%
Bloomington
94.3
Charleston
96.3
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Bloomington
104.1
Charleston
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Bloomington
94.2
Charleston
94.8
Utilities+6.0%
Bloomington
86.5
Charleston
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charleston, WV
$74,600
$5,400 less needed in Charleston

Formula: salary × (88.7 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 0.9327. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Home Price
$288,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
85.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Charleston, WV

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

Bloomington has 40.0% lower housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Household Income
$58,700
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
79,168
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentRetail

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).

Bloomington, IN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.