Elkins, WV Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Elkins, WV Summary

Cost of living in Elkins research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Elkins is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in West Virginia, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Elkins is 87, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Elkins is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Elkins ranks as the #12 cheapest in West Virginia out of 30.

  • Elkins ranks as the #777 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Elkins is $168,586.

  • The median income in Elkins is $47,746.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
87
Elkins's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Elkins, WV?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elkins has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to West Virginia, Elkins has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than West Virginia's index of 83.

The standard of living in Elkins ranks as #12 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Elkins ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Mountain State.

For more reading on life in Elkins, check out:

12 out of 30
In West Virginia
777 out of 6,489
In America

Elkins Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elkins. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Elkins is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Elkins is 94.

  • The Health index in Elkins is 91.

  • The Housing index in Elkins is 66.

  • The Transportation index in Elkins is 95.

  • The Utilities index in Elkins is 94.

Living Expense Elkins West Virginia National Average
Overall 87 83 100
Services 96 96 100
Groceries 94 100 100
Health 91 97 100
Housing 66 60 100
Transportation 95 92 100
Utilities 94 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around West Virginia, check out:
Elkins Cost of Living Vs. WV

Elkins, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Elkins is $168,586.

  • The Median Rent in Elkins is $897.

  • The Median Income in Elkins is $47,746.

  • The Home Value To Income in Elkins is 3.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Elkins is 0.23x.

Statistic Elkins West Virginia United States
Median Home Value $168,586 $170,604 $303,400
Median Rent $897 $850 $1,348
Median Income $47,746 $57,917 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.5x 2.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.18x 0.21x
$168,586
Median Home Value
$897
Median Rent
$47,746
Median Income

Elkins, WV Costs By Category

Detailed Elkins Services Costs Vs. West Virginia

Item Elkins West Virginia
Shampoo $1.15 $1.28
Movie $10.26 $12.13
Bowling $17.17 $18.0
Haircut $29.44 $24.26
Beauty Salon $49.17 $45.56

Detailed Elkins Groceries Costs Vs. West Virginia

Item Elkins West Virginia
Ground Beef $5.63 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.35 $1.57
Milk $4.56 $4.67
Potatoes $5.49 $4.93
Pizza $11.17 $12.09
Beer $10.15 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.8 $3.7

Detailed Elkins Health Costs Vs. West Virginia

Item Elkins West Virginia
Optometrist $126.67 $125.68
Doctor $137.65 $135.78
Dentist $100.44 $113.29

Detailed Elkins Transportation Costs Vs. West Virginia

Item Elkins West Virginia
Gasoline $3.46 $3.46
Tire Balancing $47.54 $59.92

Detailed Elkins Utilities Costs Vs. West Virginia

Item Elkins West Virginia
All Electricity $178.61 $193.99
Phone $185.45 $192.25

Elkins SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elkins

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elkins. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Morgantown, WV has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Elkins.

  • Fairmont, WV has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Elkins.

  • Clarksburg, WV has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Elkins.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Elkins
Morgantown, WV 30,273 99 1.1x
Fairmont, WV 18,303 86 1.0x
Clarksburg, WV 15,829 84 1.0x
Bridgeport, WV 9,292 104 1.2x
Brookhaven, WV 6,465 97 1.1x
Buckhannon, WV 5,144 89 1.0x

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