A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 St. Albans West Virginia National
Cost of living8985100
Goods & Services9595100
Groceries10098100
Health care10197100
Housing7262100
Transportation9494100
Utilities9896100

An Overview of Cost of Living in St. Albans, WV

Understanding the cost of living in St. Albans 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 St. Albans cost of living index is 89, which is 11% 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.

Is St. Albans Affordable?

Is St. Albans an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in St. Albans, the median home price is 33.3% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 17.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in St. Albans come in at $50,969, which is 7.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in St. Albans?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In St. Albans, healthcare costs are 1.1% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In St. Albans, the groceries index registers 0.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The St. Albans 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in St. Albans Area
Search Homes for Sale in St. Albans, WV

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in St. Albans is 4% higher than the West Virginia average
  • The cost of living in St. Albans is 11% lower than the national average
  • St. Albans housing is 28% 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 St. Albans

See all the best places to live around St. Albans

Compare St. Albans, WV Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in St. Albans?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in St. Albans?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all St. Albans poll results

      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$60,503$5,042$1,412$1,815
      Renters$31,397$2,616$733$942
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in St. Albans, WV, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in St. Albans have a median income of $60,503. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,412 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $31,397, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $733.

      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 St. Albans 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 St. Albans 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 St. Albans 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 St. Albans National avg. Difference
      Home Price $123,200.00$184,700.0033.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,346.93$2,346.6942.6%
      Apartment Rent $785.00$949.0017.3%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item St. Albans 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.
      Rand, WV9778118.8%
      Bancroft, WV4438416.4%
      Marmet, WV1,5778416.1%
      Alum Creek, WV1,5798614.3%
      Nitro, WV6,4988614.0%
      St. Albans, WV10,0788911.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Vernon, TX10,0788020.4%
      Bernalillo, NM10,077954.8%
      Woodburn, VA10,08116262.3%
      Harrisonville, MO10,0849010.2%
      Española, NM10,071946.5%
      St. Albans, WV10,0788911.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.