What is the cost of living in Bluefield, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bluefield has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Bluefield has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Bluefield ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Bluefield ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Bluefield, check out:
Bluefield Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bluefield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bluefield is 104.
The Groceries index in Bluefield is 105.
The Health index in Bluefield is 54.
The Housing index in Bluefield is 100.
The Transportation index in Bluefield is 106.
The Utilities index in Bluefield is 102.
| Living Expense | Bluefield | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 54 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 93 | 100 |
Bluefield Cost Of Living Compared To West Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around West Virginia, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In West Virginia
- Most Affordable Cities In West Virginia
- Average Rent In West Virginia
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bluefield, WV Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in West Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bluefield is $105,764.
The Median Rent in Bluefield is $804.
The Median Income in Bluefield is $49,375.
The Home Value To Income in Bluefield is 2.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bluefield is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Bluefield | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $105,764 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $804 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,375 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.1x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Bluefield, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Bluefield Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Bluefield | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.72 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.61 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bluefield Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Bluefield | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.67 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.33 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.62 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.1 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bluefield Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Bluefield | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $130.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $159.79 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bluefield Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Bluefield | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $80.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bluefield Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Bluefield | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $200.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Bluefield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bluefield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bluefield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Blacksburg, VA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.4x Bluefield.
Christiansburg, VA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.2x Bluefield.
Beckley, WV has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Bluefield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bluefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | 120 | 1.4x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Beckley, WV | 16,818 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Radford, VA | 16,726 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Pulaski, VA | 8,893 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Wytheville, VA | 8,202 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Princeton, WV | 5,736 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Marion, VA | 5,670 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Richlands, VA | 5,171 | 86 | 1.0x |
