| Index | Beckley | West Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 85 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Housing | 69 | 62 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 89 | 91 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Beckley allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Beckley stands at 88, marking it 12% lower than the national average.
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.
Wondering if Beckley is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Beckley, for example, the median home price is 38.3% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 14.9% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Beckley boasting a median household income of $64,669, which is 20.5% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Beckley, the utilities index registers 4.3% lower 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 1.8% lower 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.
The Beckley cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $86,064 | $7,172 | $2,008 | $2,582 |
| Renters | $33,458 | $2,788 | $781 | $1,004 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| West Virginia | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| West Virginia | 3% | 6.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Glen White, WV | 671 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Glen Jean, WV | 151 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Prince, WV | 17 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Helen, WV | 16 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Eccles, WV | 0 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Beckley, WV | 16,865 | 88 | 12.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Wolf Trap, VA | 16,866 | 211 | 110.7% |
| Fort Thomas, KY | 16,868 | 101 | 1.0% |
| New River, AZ | 16,857 | 134 | 34.3% |
| Coos Bay, OR | 16,855 | 106 | 6.1% |
| Glassmanor, MD | 16,877 | 115 | 15.1% |
| Beckley, WV | 16,865 | 88 | 12.5% |
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