West Monroe, LA vs South Charleston, WV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Charleston, WV has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% lower than West Monroe, LA.

West Monroe, LA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / month
South Charleston, WV · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare West Monroe, LA and South Charleston, WV using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $77.79/month in South Charleston, WV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,066 in South Charleston, WV

Regional cost estimates: West Monroe, LA uses Baton Rouge, LA. South Charleston, WV uses Columbus, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$77.79
Savings
Annual Impact
$934
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

West Monroe, LA

Population:13K
Cost Index:
82.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$176K

South Charleston, WV

Population:13K
Cost Index:
80.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$163K

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West Monroe, LA

The Pelican State

13K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Louisiana, this city has a population of 13K residents.

South Charleston, WV

The Mountain State

13K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in West Virginia, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: West Monroe, LA vs South Charleston, WV

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 12.1%
West Monroe, LA
$1,899
South Charleston, WV
$1,669
Difference
$230
less
Healthcare
↑ 28.5%
West Monroe, LA
$534
South Charleston, WV
$687
Difference
$152
more
Transportation
↑ 9.1%
West Monroe, LA
$1,343
South Charleston, WV
$1,465
Difference
$122
more
Housing
↓ 4.4%
West Monroe, LA
$2,072
South Charleston, WV
$1,981
Difference
$90.88
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.9%
West Monroe, LA
$552
South Charleston, WV
$525
Difference
$26.80
less
Groceries
↓ 0.4%
West Monroe, LA
$1,100
South Charleston, WV
$1,096
Difference
$4.16
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$715
↓ $55.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$835
↑ $35.00
2 Bed
From$1,030
To$1,030
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,325
To$1,325
→ $0
West Monroe, LAZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$870/mo

South Charleston, WVZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$890/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in West Monroe, LA
$7,422
Monthly in South Charleston, WV
$77.79
Difference

Home Values

West Monroe
South Charleston
$176K
Median Value
$163K
↓ -2%
YoY Change
↑ +3%
↑ +7.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +33.8%
$144K - $209K
Price Range
$160K - $167K

Homes in South Charleston are 7% less expensive than West Monroe

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $875
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$72.92
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

West Monroe, LA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Louisiana State Tax
Effective: 5.2%
$7.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.8%
$44.8K
Take-Home Pay
$8,770/month
$105.2K

South Charleston, WV

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
West Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.8%
$8.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.4%
$45.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,697/month
$104.4K

Additional Tax Information

West Monroe, LA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.6%
Property Tax:0.5%

South Charleston, WV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.7%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

West Monroe
South Charleston
51 Moderate
Air Quality
53 Moderate
48.9%
Good Air Days
41.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
51 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
51 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from West Monroe, LA to South Charleston, WV

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in South Charleston, WV for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in West Monroe, LA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your West Monroe to South Charleston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to South Charleston, WV by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: West Monroe, LA vs South Charleston, WV

How do the cost estimates for West Monroe, LA and South Charleston, WV compare?

South Charleston, WV has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% lower than West Monroe, LA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in West Monroe, LA, the model estimates $149,066 in South Charleston, WV. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for West Monroe, LA and South Charleston, WV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,030/month in West Monroe, LA and $1,030/month in South Charleston, WV. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Louisiana and West Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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