A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
33%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Beckley West Virginia National
Cost of living8885100
Goods & Services9595100
Groceries10098100
Health care10197100
Housing6762100
Transportation9494100
Utilities9896100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Beckley, WV

Understanding the cost of living in Beckley can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Beckley cost of living index is 88, which is 12% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Beckley?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 5 residents in Beckley to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 0% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 100% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Beckley Affordable?

Is Beckley affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Beckley, for instance, where the median home price falls 40.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 15.1% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Beckley flaunting a median household income of $42,972, 22.3% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Beckley?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Beckley, the healthcare costs are 1.1% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Beckley, the groceries index is 0.3% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Beckley, the transportation index stands at 6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Beckley cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Beckley is 3% higher than the West Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Beckley is 12% lower than the national average
  • Beckley housing is 33% lower than the national average
  • West Virginia general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • West Virginia state income tax is 16% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Beckley

See all the best places to live around Beckley

Compare Beckley, WV Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$57,215$4,768$1,335$1,717
      Renters$22,394$1,866$522$672
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Beckley, WV, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Beckley homeowners, is $57,215. This would allow for a maximum of $1,335 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $22,394 which would result in a maximum of $522 to be spent on rental costs.

      West Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      West Virginia 6% 7%

      West Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      West Virginia 3% 6.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Beckley National avg. Difference
      Haircut $18.78$24.2622.6%
      Beauty Salon $46.22$45.561.4%
      Toothpaste $3.56$3.703.8%
      Shampoo $1.18$1.288.1%
      Movie $12.41$12.132.3%
      Bowling $13.67$18.0024.1%

      Groceries

      Item Beckley National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.57$5.844.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.0%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.4%
      Potatoes $5.16$4.934.6%
      Pizza $11.31$12.096.4%
      Beer $10.19$10.412.1%

      Health Care

      Item Beckley National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $172.33$125.6837.1%
      Doctor $158.83$135.7817.0%
      Dentist $107.83$113.294.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.49$10.651.5%
      Lipitor $355.05$468.6024.2%

      Housing

      Item Beckley National avg. Difference
      Home Price $109,300.00$184,700.0040.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,346.93$2,346.6942.6%
      Apartment Rent $806.00$949.0015.1%

      Transportation

      Item Beckley National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.36$3.463.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.00$59.9213.2%

      Utilities

      Item Beckley National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $189.47$193.992.3%
      Phone $186.09$192.253.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Glen Jean, WV145973.5%
      Prince, WV17973.5%
      Helen, WV15973.5%
      Eccles, WV0973.5%
      Itmann, WV206973.5%
      Beckley, WV16,2408812.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fort Carson, CO16,24312827.8%
      Shelbyville, KY16,244991.3%
      Port Washington, NY16,23219392.5%
      Brunswick, GA16,2318515.1%
      Auburndale, FL16,230982.2%
      Beckley, WV16,2408812.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.