CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Ontario, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
CA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Charleston is significantly cheaper than Ontario — 20.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $96,000 in Ontario. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+151.6%
Charleston
51.4
Ontario
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.3%
Charleston
96.3
Ontario
101.4
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Charleston
104.8
Ontario
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Charleston
94.8
Ontario
96.2
Utilities+62.1%
Charleston
91.7
Ontario
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ontario, CA
$96,000
$16,000 more needed in Ontario

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.1995. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, WV

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

Ontario, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Ontario has 151.6% higher housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, WV

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

Ontario, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
175,265
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charleston, WV
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Ontario, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.