2023 Report: Cities in West Virginia where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest
How does living in the Mountain state affect your wallet? doxo breaks down key insights about West Virginia’s household expenses, with a close eye to how bills differ in towns and cities across the state. The average household in West Virginia, doxo’s data reveals, pays $1,530 in bills per month.
doxo’s data also has infographics for 26 cities and towns across West Virginia, breaking down localized bill pay data figures as well. The state-wide rankings for most and least expensive cities provide insight into cost of living in West Virginia and how it changes according to location.
The data sheds light on West Virginia’s cost of living through other metrics, too. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of household income local residents spend on bills. doxo’s data also indicates how much more or less expensive specific cities are than the national and state average.
West Virginia residents pay $1,530 in household bills a month
The average West Virginia household pays $1,530 a month for the 10 most common household bills. This figure takes into account the 10 most common household bills, which are: Mortgage; Rent; Auto Loan; Utilities (electric, gas, water & sewer, and waste & recycling); Auto Insurance; Cable & Internet & Phone, Health Insurance (consumer paid portion); Mobile Phone; Alarm & Security; and Life Insurance.
West Virginia residents, overall, get a good deal on their bills: the state ranks 50th out of 50 states in terms of average monthly spending. Mississippi ranks 48th, with annual monthly expenses of $1,616, and Arkansas ranks 49th, at $1,635.
West Virginia’s household expenses, on average, are 25.2% lower than the national average of $2,046.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. The “percentage of household income” metric provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. West Virginia households spend 38% of their income on household bills.
Annually, West Virginia residents pay $14 billion in household bills. See more data about bill pay in West Virginia by clicking on the infographic link below.
Data: doxoINSIGHTS’ bill pay infographic about West Virginia
- Average Bill Cost per HH: $1,530 per month
- State Bill Pay Market Size: $14 billion
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: 50 out of 50
- Percent of HHI Used for Bills: 38%
- Difference from the National Average: 25.2% lower
Housing bill category drives West Virginia’s low monthly bill expenses
The average West Virginia household pays $1,530 in the 10 most common household bills per month. Rent and mortgage expenses drive savings, with both being considerably lower than the national average. The average mortgage payment in West Virginia is $879, and average rent is $785, compared to the national average mortgage bill of $1,321 and rent bill of $1,191.
Other than housing-related expenses, auto loans are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for residents of West Virginia. Still, these expenses are lower than the national average. The average auto loan bill in West Virginia is $413 a month, compared to the national average of $467.
Compared to the national average, health insurance bills are a notably lower expense for residents of West Virginia. The average household in the state pays $116 a month for health insurance, compared to the national average of $120.
Auto insurance is more expensive in West Virginia. While US residents on average spend $207 per month on car insurance, in West Virginia they spend $216.
Note: Health Insurance and Life Insurance expenses do not account for payments made by employers on behalf of employees. These just include out-of-pocket expenses. Also, the state and national bill totals take into account the percentage of households that pay a bill.
Average West Virginia Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Average West Virginia Monthly Bill | National Average Monthly Bill | West Virginia Percent +/- National Average ($2,046) |
| Mortgage | $879 | $1,321 | 33% lower |
| Rent | $785 | $1,191 | 34% lower |
| Auto Loan | $413 | $467 | 12% lower |
| Utilities | $315 | $351 | 10% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $216 | $207 | 4% higher |
| Cable & Internet | $124 | $118 | 5% higher |
| Health Insurance | $116 | $120 | 3% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $143 | $119 | 20% higher |
| Alarm & Security | $79 | $84 | 6% lower |
| Life Insurance | $61 | $89 | 31% lower |
| Total | $1,530 | $2,046 | 25.2% lower |
Charles Town tops the list of most expensive cities for West Virginia’s household bills
Residents of Charles Town pay the highest household bills in the state of West Virginia, at an average of $2,248 per month. Clarksburg comes second in the rankings, with residents paying $2,121 on average per month.
In proportion to household income, however, Clarksburg’s bills are costlier than ones in Bridgeport. While Clarksburg’s monthly bill basket makes up 56% of average household income there, Charles Town’s bill basket accounts for just 30% of average household income in that area.
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 (1-10 out of 26) | City | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household* | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Charles Town | $2,248 | 30% |
| 2 | Clarksburg | $2,121 | 56% |
| 3 | Martinsburg | $2,033 | 40% |
| 4 | Morgantown | $1,955 | 42% |
| 5 | Bridgeport | $1,856 | 27% |
| 6 | Beckley | $1,843 | 47% |
| 7 | Hurricane | $1,695 | 30% |
| 8 | Weirton | $1,643 | 39% |
| 9 | South Charleston | $1,638 | 40% |
| 10 | Berkeley Springs | $1,635 | 32% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense averages shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Elkins is the most affordable West Virginia city for household bills
Out of 26 cities and towns, Elkins is the most affordable place in West Virginia, with residents paying $1,287 on average for household bills. Household bills account for 35% of local income in Elkins.
Bluefield comes in at the second most affordable town or city in West Virginia, with residents paying $1,337 per month on average.
Also on the list of 10 least expensive cities in West Virginia are Huntington ($1,355 per month), Moundsville ($1,376 per month), and Oak Hill ($1,386 per month).
10 Most Affordable West Virginia Cities for Household Bills
| Rank (17-26 out of 26) | City | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 17 | Fairmont | $1,411 | 34% |
| 18 | Saint Albans | $1,401 | 39% |
| 19 | Princeton | $1,391 | 38% |
| 20 | Vienna | $1,390 | 32% |
| 21 | Buckhannon | $1,379 | 39% |
| 22 | Oak Hill | $1,357 | 39% |
| 23 | Moundsville | $1,353 | 39% |
| 24 | Huntington | $1,312 | 41% |
| 25 | Bluefield | $1,242 | 46% |
| 26 | Elkins | $1,235 | 35% |
Some individuals may be deciding whether to move from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource for consumers seeking to make key decisions like this, allowing them to compare West Virginia’s household expenses against average bills in different cities and states across the country. They can also use doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to compare average costs for over 4,200 towns and cities across the country.