City Comparison

Charleston vs Ogden

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Charleston

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

Ogden

Utah
107
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

20.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 20.6%, with Charleston being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Charleston has equivalent purchasing power to $94,412 in Ogden.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Charleston
112
Ogden
Groceries
97
Charleston
92
Ogden
Utilities
92
Charleston
80
Ogden
Transportation
97
Charleston
101
Ogden
Healthcare
91
Charleston
91
Ogden

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Charleston has the same purchasing power as $94,412 in Ogden.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ogden equals $59,579 in Charleston.

Living in Charleston vs Ogden

Housing Costs

Charleston's housing index of 62 is lower Ogden's 112, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $385,000. The $250,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,248 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Charleston compared to $1,250/mo in Ogden, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Charleston and 92 in Ogden. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Charleston vs $437/month in Ogden. 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 80 in Ogden. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Charleston vs $320 in Ogden. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Charleston and 91 in Ogden. 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 $70,100 in Ogden. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,452 and $65,514 respectively. Ogden 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 $1,636/month in Ogden. In Charleston, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Ogden, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 50 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston is 20.6% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Charleston has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,412 in Ogden, based on the cost of living difference.
Charleston's housing index is 62 with median homes at $135,000, while Ogden's is 112 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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