Beaumont vs Charleston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Beaumont
Charleston
The Verdict
Living in Beaumont costs 29.1% less than Charleston. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Beaumont, you would need $105,769 in Charleston.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $105,769 in Charleston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Charleston equals $53,182 in Beaumont.
Living in Beaumont vs Charleston
Housing Costs
Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Charleston's 127, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $380,000. The $214,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,908 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,600/mo in Charleston, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 102 in Charleston. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $485/month in Charleston. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 99 in Charleston. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $396 in Charleston. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 104 in Charleston. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $65,872 in Charleston. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $59,884 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,537/month in Charleston. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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