Studio Rent · August 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Charleston, WV

$850/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Charleston, West Virginia as of August 2026. That's +39% lower than the citywide median of $1,386 and +34% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$850
August 2026
vs city overall
-39%
$1,386 city median
vs national
-34%
$1,290 US median
West Virginia rank
#9
of 13 cities

Income needed for a studio in Charleston

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$34,000
Monthly gross
$2,833
Hourly (full-time)
$16.35

Rent by apartment size in Charleston

Compare Charleston's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$850
1-Bedroom
$1,005
2-Bedroom
$1,235
3-Bedroom
$1,590
4+ Bedroom
$1,640

Cheapest cities for a studio in West Virginia

#CityStudio rent
1Princeton$580
2Weirton$690
3Wheeling$700
4Fairmont$759
5Parkersburg$770
6Hurricane$780
7Falling Waters$820
8Martinsburg$847
9Charleston (this page)$850
10Morgantown$857
11Charles Town$880
12Huntington$885
13Bridgeport$950

Most expensive cities for a studio in West Virginia

#CityStudio rent
1Bridgeport$950
2Huntington$885
3Charles Town$880
4Morgantown$857
5Charleston (this page)$850
6Martinsburg$847
7Falling Waters$820
8Hurricane$780
9Parkersburg$770
10Fairmont$759
11Wheeling$700
12Weirton$690
13Princeton$580

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 4 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Charleston.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Charleston
Hurricane, WV32.2 mi$780$-70 (-8%)
Parkersburg, WV62.2 mi$770$-80 (-9%)
Huntington, WV63.3 mi$885+$35 (+4%)
Marietta, OH75.6 mi$680$-170 (-20%)
Princeton, WV75.8 mi$580$-270 (-32%)
Athens, OH77.3 mi$890+$40 (+5%)
Blacksburg, VA106.9 mi$990+$140 (+16%)
Radford, VA108.4 mi$900+$50 (+6%)
Bridgeport, WV111.3 mi$950+$100 (+12%)
Christiansburg, VA112.9 mi$900+$50 (+6%)
Lancaster, OH119.9 mi$890+$40 (+5%)
Salem, VA121 mi$960+$110 (+13%)

Studio rent in Charleston — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Charleston?

As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Charleston, West Virginia is $850 per month. This is +39% below the citywide median of $1,386.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Charleston?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $34,000 ($2,833/month gross), which works out to roughly $16.35/hour at a full-time job.

Is Charleston expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Charleston's studio median of $850 is +34% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 13th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Charleston rank for studio rent in West Virginia?

Among the 13 cities in West Virginia with studio data, Charleston ranks #9 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Charleston?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Hurricane ($780), Parkersburg ($770), Marietta ($680).

All rent data
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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Charleston, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (August 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.