CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs St. Cloud, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
More AffordableMN
St. Cloud
87.6
overall index
$1,175/mo rent

St. Cloud is slightly cheaper than Charleston — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $79,000 in St. Cloud. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+26.7%
Charleston
51.4
St. Cloud
65.1
🛒 Groceries0.9%
Charleston
96.3
St. Cloud
95.4
🚗 Transportation7.6%
Charleston
104.8
St. Cloud
96.8
🏥 Healthcare7.6%
Charleston
94.8
St. Cloud
87.6
Utilities3.3%
Charleston
91.7
St. Cloud
88.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Cloud, MN
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in St. Cloud

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 0.9876. 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×

St. Cloud, MN

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,175
Housing Index
65.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

St. Cloud has 26.7% 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

St. Cloud, MN

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
67,984
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationRetailTechnology

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)

St. Cloud, MN
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.