South Charleston, WV vs St. Albans, WV

South Charleston, WV and St. Albans, WV have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.2% difference in their overall index. South Charleston scores 69 while St. Albans scores 69 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in South Charleston is $857/month compared to $888/month in St. Albans — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while South Charleston has cheaper rent, St. Albans actually has lower median home values ($131,800 vs $144,800).

Median household income in South Charleston is $59,616 compared to $58,788 in St. Albans (+1.4%). While South Charleston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of South Charleston spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 18.1% in St. Albans.