What is the cost of living in Dunbar, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dunbar has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Dunbar has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Dunbar ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Dunbar ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Dunbar, check out:
Dunbar Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dunbar. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dunbar is 97.
The Groceries index in Dunbar is 96.
The Health index in Dunbar is 63.
The Housing index in Dunbar is 93.
The Transportation index in Dunbar is 98.
The Utilities index in Dunbar is 97.
| Living Expense | Dunbar | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 63 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 93 | 100 |
Dunbar 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
Dunbar, 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 Dunbar is $123,692.
The Median Rent in Dunbar is $935.
The Median Income in Dunbar is $58,379.
The Home Value To Income in Dunbar is 2.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dunbar is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Dunbar | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $123,692 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $935 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $58,379 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.1x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Dunbar, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Dunbar Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Dunbar | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.18 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.41 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dunbar Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Dunbar | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.57 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.19 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.56 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dunbar Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Dunbar | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $172.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $158.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dunbar Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Dunbar | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dunbar Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Dunbar | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $189.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.09 | $192.25 |
Dunbar SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dunbar
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dunbar. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charleston, WV has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x Dunbar.
Teays Valley, WV has a cost of living index of 102, 1.2x Dunbar.
South Charleston, WV has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Dunbar.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dunbar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 47,421 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Teays Valley, WV | 14,151 | 102 | 1.2x |
| South Charleston, WV | 13,457 | 86 | 1.0x |
| St. Albans, WV | 10,522 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Cross Lanes, WV | 9,671 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Hurricane, WV | 6,855 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Nitro, WV | 6,853 | 83 | 1.0x |
