Cost of Living in West Virginia
Updated November 2026 · population 1,778,373
West Virginia prices are 10.5% below the US average (index 89.5), ranking 43rd most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 54.2, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,096 a month.
Prices by category
West Virginia price index by category, US average = 100: All items 89.5, Housing (rents) 54.2, Goods 96.5, Utilities 92.2, Other services 99.9
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| West Virginia (whole state) | 89.5 |
| Metropolitan areas of West Virginia | 90.9 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of West Virginia | 87.0 |
Cities in West Virginia
Select a column heading to sort.
| Morgantown | 30,236 | 92.5 | $2,329 | $4,734 | $937 | $259,400 |
Metro areas in West Virginia
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 108.9 | 151.1 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 96.5 | 90.0 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 94.2 | 75.7 |
| Morgantown, WV | 93.3 | 69.1 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 89.0 | 52.4 |
| Charleston, WV | 88.7 | 51.4 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 88.4 | 51.3 |
| Beckley, WV | 88.4 | 52.2 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 88.3 | 51.4 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 87.1 | 45.9 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of West Virginia.
Modelled monthly budget at West Virginia average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for West Virginia (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $490 | $5,880 | 23% |
| Utilities | $258 | $3,096 | 12% |
| Food at home | $272 | $3,264 | 13% |
| Transportation | $562 | $6,744 | 27% |
| Health care | $351 | $4,212 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $163 | $1,956 | 8% |
| Total | $2,096 | $25,152 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for West Virginia (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $669 | $8,028 | 18% |
| Utilities | $409 | $4,908 | 11% |
| Food at home | $503 | $6,036 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,113 | $13,356 | 30% |
| Health care | $651 | $7,812 | 18% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $321 | $3,852 | 9% |
| Total | $3,666 | $43,992 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for West Virginia (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $772 | $9,264 | 17% |
| Utilities | $498 | $5,976 | 11% |
| Food at home | $717 | $8,604 | 16% |
| Transportation | $1,480 | $17,760 | 33% |
| Health care | $607 | $7,284 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $414 | $4,968 | 9% |
| Total | $4,488 | $53,856 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
16.31¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +4.4% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)
$3.69/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +30.9% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the South region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 88.5 | 87.3 | 91.0 | 89.2 | 89.6 | 89.5 |
Change over the period: +1.0 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is West Virginia an expensive state to live in?
West Virginia has a cost of living index of 89.5 (US = 100), 10.5% below the US average. It ranks 43rd of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 54.2 (rank 51), goods 96.5, utilities 92.2 and other services 99.9. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in West Virginia?
At West Virginia state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,096 for a single adult, $3,666 for a couple and $4,488 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 90.9 and nonmetro areas 87.0.
What is the median rent and home value in West Virginia?
The median gross rent in West Virginia is $872 a month and the median home value is $162,600 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 29.4% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 54.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, South region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology