Parkersburg, WV vs Charleston, WV: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Charleston, WV is 1.9% more expensive than Parkersburg, WV (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Parkersburg works out to about $76,400 in Charleston, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 12.0% more in Charleston. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,210 a month in Charleston and $1,063 in Parkersburg, $1,764 a year more in Charleston (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $147,000 in Charleston and $169,000 in Parkersburg.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 12.0% higher in Charleston than in Parkersburg
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.1 | 88.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 45.9 | 51.4 |
| Utilities | 92.9 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| Category | Parkersburg | Charleston | Charleston vs Parkersburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.1 | 88.7 | +1.9% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 45.9 | 51.4 | +12.0% |
| Utilities | 92.9 | 91.7 | −1.3% |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,063 | $1,210 | +13.8% |
| Typical home value | $169,000 | $147,000 | −12.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Parkersburg | $75,000 | $76,400 | +1.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Parkersburg and Charleston has narrowed since 2008: 3.7 points then, 1.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.0 | 90.7 |
| 2009 | 86.3 | 89.8 |
| 2010 | 87.0 | 91.8 |
| 2011 | 88.5 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 91.6 | 93.4 |
| 2013 | 91.7 | 91.8 |
| 2014 | 90.6 | 92.4 |
| 2015 | 92.7 | 92.2 |
| 2016 | 92.7 | 92.7 |
| 2017 | 91.2 | 90.4 |
| 2018 | 89.6 | 90.5 |
| 2019 | 88.0 | 89.8 |
| 2020 | 86.2 | 87.4 |
| 2021 | 89.7 | 91.3 |
| 2022 | 87.2 | 89.8 |
| 2023 | 88.0 | 89.1 |
| 2024 | 87.1 | 88.7 |
Goods
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.0 | 96.8 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 94.7 |
| 2010 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 96.1 |
| 2013 | 96.8 | 96.5 |
| 2014 | 97.5 | 97.0 |
| 2015 | 96.2 | 95.8 |
| 2016 | 97.0 | 96.7 |
| 2017 | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2019 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2022 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2023 | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 51.4 | 63.4 |
| 2009 | 53.8 | 62.6 |
| 2010 | 49.4 | 65.3 |
| 2011 | 49.6 | 75.6 |
| 2012 | 58.4 | 68.3 |
| 2013 | 61.3 | 60.7 |
| 2014 | 56.9 | 64.8 |
| 2015 | 64.4 | 62.2 |
| 2016 | 62.8 | 64.0 |
| 2017 | 59.1 | 56.8 |
| 2018 | 60.5 | 61.8 |
| 2019 | 54.1 | 64.1 |
| 2020 | 53.7 | 55.8 |
| 2021 | 52.3 | 60.3 |
| 2022 | 48.3 | 54.7 |
| 2023 | 50.2 | 52.9 |
| 2024 | 45.9 | 51.4 |
Utilities
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.6 | 73.2 |
| 2009 | 81.5 | 77.8 |
| 2010 | 82.8 | 81.3 |
| 2011 | 83.5 | 82.3 |
| 2012 | 85.4 | 84.2 |
| 2013 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| 2014 | 82.5 | 81.7 |
| 2015 | 85.9 | 85.1 |
| 2016 | 87.8 | 87.9 |
| 2017 | 83.2 | 83.6 |
| 2018 | 85.5 | 85.1 |
| 2019 | 86.9 | 86.4 |
| 2020 | 87.6 | 87.2 |
| 2021 | 84.9 | 84.8 |
| 2022 | 84.7 | 85.3 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 87.1 |
| 2024 | 92.9 | 91.7 |
Other services
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 97.6 |
| 2010 | 99.3 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 101.5 | 101.2 |
| 2013 | 100.6 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 100.5 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.1 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 100.6 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2020 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2021 | 100.2 | 100.2 |
| 2022 | 100.9 | 100.9 |
| 2023 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2024 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,210 in Charleston vs $1,063 in Parkersburg
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $825 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $820 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $823 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $840 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $829 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $836 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $852 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $848 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $864 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $852 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $862 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $868 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $870 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $884 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $888 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $885 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $907 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $899 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $916 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $933 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $932 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | $951 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | – | $977 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | – | $988 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | – | $986 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $875 | $1,010 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $865 | $1,021 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $876 | $1,051 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $891 | $1,044 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $919 | $1,058 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $916 | $1,075 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $918 | $1,094 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $959 | $1,104 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $962 | $1,118 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,003 | $1,149 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $975 | $1,172 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $988 | $1,180 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,017 | $1,183 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,054 | $1,208 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,063 | $1,210 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $147,000 in Charleston vs $169,000 in Parkersburg
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Parkersburg, WV
- Charleston, WV
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Parkersburg, WV | Charleston, WV | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $105K | $98K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $107K | $97K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $109K | $98K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $108K | $98K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $108K | $99K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $107K | $99K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $107K | $99K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $107K | $99K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $107K | $100K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $108K | $100K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $108K | $100K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $110K | $101K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $112K | $101K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $114K | $102K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $114K | $101K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $115K | $101K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $117K | $102K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $119K | $103K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $120K | $104K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $121K | $104K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $122K | $104K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $122K | $104K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $124K | $107K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $130K | $112K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $134K | $115K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $139K | $118K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $139K | $119K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $140K | $121K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $146K | $126K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $151K | $129K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $153K | $130K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $153K | $131K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $152K | $132K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $156K | $136K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $158K | $137K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $159K | $137K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $159K | $139K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $163K | $143K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $164K | $143K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $166K | $145K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $167K | $148K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $165K | $145K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $167K | $146K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $167K | $145K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $168K | $146K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $168K | $147K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $169K | $147K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.