Cost of Living in West Virginia: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024
What is the cost of living in West Virginia? doxo breaks down key insights about West Virginia’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
The average household in West Virginia, doxo’s data reveals, pays $1,596 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Phone, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on West Virginia’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
West Virginia ranks as the 50th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, West Virginia is ranked as the 50th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills, making it the least expensive state for these expenses.
At $19,153 per year, West Virginia’s household expenses, on average, are 25% lower than the US average of $25,513.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. West Virginia households spend 35% of their income on bills.
The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), another feature of doxoINSIGHTS, helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national average and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national average. The COBI for West Virginia is 75.
- Average Bill Cost per Household: $1,596 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 75
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #50
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 35%
- Compared to the National Average: 25% lower
West Virginia Household Expenses are 25% Less than the National Average
The average West Virginia household pays $1,596 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the average monthly payment for alarm and security bills in West Virginia is $77, compared to the national average of $85, making it approximately 9.9% lower than the average.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for West Virginia residents. The average monthly mortgage payment is $961, compared to the national average of $1,402, making it 37% cheaper.
Average West Virginia Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Average West Virginia Monthly Bill | National Average Monthly Bill | West Virginia Percent +/- National Average ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $961 | $1,402 | 37% lower |
| Rent | $846 | $1,300 | 42% lower |
| Auto Loan | $462 | $496 | 7% lower |
| Utilities | $312 | $362 | 15% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $213 | $209 | 2% higher |
| Health Insurance | $133 | $114 | 15% higher |
| Mobile Phone | $139 | $121 | 14% higher |
| Cable & Internet | $121 | $122 | 0.8% lower |
| Life Insurance | $66 | $87 | 27% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $77 | $85 | 10% lower |
| Total | $1,596 | $2,126 | 28% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense averages shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Martinsburg has the highest cost of living in West Virginia for household bills
Residents of Martinsburg pay the highest household bills in the state of West Virginia, at an average of $2,297 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Martinsburg is 108, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 8% higher than the national average.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Martinsburg makeup 41% of the average monthly household income of $67,558.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
10 Most Expensive West Virginia Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Martinsburg | $67,558 | $2,297 | 108 | 8% higher | 41% |
| 2 | Charles Town | $99,187 | $2,264 | 107 | 7% higher | 27% |
| 3 | Morgantown | $59,844 | $2,149 | 101 | 1% higher | 43% |
| 4 | Harpers Ferry | $92,513 | $2,123 | 100 | The same | 28% |
| 5 | Inwood | $80,086 | $2,051 | 96 | 4% lower | 31% |
| 6 | Falling Waters | $82,156 | $1,959 | 92 | 8% lower | 29% |
| 7 | Bridgeport | $87,705 | $1,912 | 90 | 10% lower | 26% |
| 8 | Berkeley Springs | $62,799 | $1,828 | 86 | 14% lower | 35% |
| 9 | Weirton | $58,233 | $1,817 | 85 | 15% lower | 37% |
| 10 | Dunbar | $48,107 | $1,807 | 85 | 15% lower | 45% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense averages shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Oak Hill Has the Lowest Cost of Living in West Virginia for Household Bills
Out of 75 cities, Oak Hill is the most affordable place in West Virginia, with residents paying $1,302 on average for household bills, accounting for 33% of annual income of $47,582. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Oak Hill is 61, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 39% below the national average.
Elkins is the second most affordable city in West Virginia, with residents paying $1,376 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 10 least expensive cities in West Virginia are Buckhannon ($1,399), Parkersburg ($1,403) and Vienna ($1,407).
10 Most Affordable West Virginia Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 22 | Princeton | $47,244 | $1,560 | 73 | 27% lower | 40% |
| 23 | Moundsville | $54,578 | $1,528 | 72 | 28% lower | 34% |
| 24 | Fairmont | $59,875 | $1,505 | 71 | 29% lower | 30% |
| 25 | Elkview | $62,865 | $1,477 | 69 | 31% lower | 28% |
| 26 | Huntington | $46,191 | $1,471 | 69 | 31% lower | 38% |
| 27 | Vienna | $63,011 | $1,407 | 66 | 34% lower | 27% |
| 28 | Parkersburg | $44,777 | $1,403 | 66 | 34% lower | 38% |
| 29 | Buckhannon | $49,962 | $1,399 | 66 | 34% lower | 34% |
| 30 | Elkins | $48,450 | $1,376 | 65 | 35% lower | 34% |
| 31 | Oak Hill | $47,582 | $1,302 | 61 | 39% lower | 33% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense averages shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in West Virginia with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.