City Comparison

Charleston vs Green Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Charleston

West Virginia
85
Very Affordable
$135,000
Median Home
$850/mo
Median Rent
$42,034
Median Income

Green Bay

Wisconsin
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

The Verdict

1.2%

Living in Charleston costs 1.2% less than Green Bay. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $75,882 in Green Bay.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
62
Charleston
72
Green Bay
Groceries
97
Charleston
98
Green Bay
Utilities
92
Charleston
84
Green Bay
Transportation
97
Charleston
102
Green Bay
Healthcare
91
Charleston
96
Green Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Charleston has the same purchasing power as $75,882 in Green Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Green Bay equals $74,128 in Charleston.

Living in Charleston vs Green Bay

Housing Costs

Charleston's housing index of 62 is lower Green Bay's 72, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $235,000. The $100,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,504 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Charleston compared to $950/mo in Green Bay, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Charleston and 98 in Green Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Charleston vs $466/month in Green Bay. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Charleston and 84 in Green Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Charleston vs $336 in Green Bay. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Charleston and 96 in Green Bay. 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 $42,034 in Charleston and $55,200 in Green Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,452 and $64,186 respectively. Green Bay residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $981/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,288/month in Green Bay. In Charleston, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston is 1.2% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Charleston has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,882 in Green Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Charleston's housing index is 62 with median homes at $135,000, while Green Bay's is 72 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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