| Index | Bluefield | West Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 85 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 104 | 94 | 100 |
| Housing | 53 | 62 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 94 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 103 | 95 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 91 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Bluefield 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 Bluefield stands at 88, marking it 12% lower than the national average.
Bluefield housing costs are 47.3% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Bluefield residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
Is Bluefield an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Bluefield is 56% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 27% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Bluefield has a median household income of $53,518, which is 34.2% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Bluefield comes in at 4.1% higher than the national average.
The Bluefield 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 | $64,096 | $5,341 | $1,495 | $1,923 |
| Renters | $39,464 | $3,289 | $921 | $1,184 |
| 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. |
| Maybeury, WV | 74 | 103 | 2.8% |
| Pageton, WV | 123 | 103 | 2.8% |
| Keystone, WV | 87 | 75 | 25.1% |
| Northfork, WV | 254 | 76 | 24.1% |
| Montcalm, WV | 605 | 77 | 22.5% |
| Bluefield, WV | 10,163 | 88 | 12.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Boiling Springs, SC | 10,161 | 96 | 4.0% |
| Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 10,157 | 89 | 10.9% |
| Ramara, ON | 10,171 | n/a | |
| Rifle, CO | 10,154 | 117 | 16.5% |
| Charter Oak, CA | 10,172 | 146 | 46.4% |
| Bluefield, WV | 10,163 | 88 | 12.3% |
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