How much rent can you afford in South Charleston, WV?
Run your salary against South Charleston's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in South Charleston
At a median rent of $985/mo, South Charleston is very affordable when measured against South Charleston median household income of $63,884/yr. Rent would consume roughly 19% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $39,400 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How South Charleston compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in South Charleston?
On a $63,884 salary (the South Charleston median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,597/mo. South Charleston's median rent is $985/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in South Charleston?
To keep South Charleston's $985/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $39,400/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is South Charleston affordable on the median West Virginia income?
South Charleston is very affordable on a $63,884 income. Rent would take 19% of pre-tax pay, inside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".