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 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Elkins has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Elkins ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Elkins ranks as the #23 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Elkins, check out:
Elkins Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elkins. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elkins is 97.
The Groceries index in Elkins is 93.
The Health index in Elkins is 71.
The Housing index in Elkins is 94.
The Transportation index in Elkins is 92.
The Utilities index in Elkins is 91.
| Living Expense | Elkins | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 93 | 100 |
Elkins 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Elkins is $166,142.
The Median Rent in Elkins is $903.
The Median Income in Elkins is $44,217.
The Home Value To Income in Elkins is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Elkins is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Elkins | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $166,142 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $903 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $44,217 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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 |
| 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
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, 1.2x Elkins.
Fairmont, WV has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Elkins.
Clarksburg, WV has a cost of living index of 80, 1.0x Elkins.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Elkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | 30,236 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Fairmont, WV | 18,221 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Clarksburg, WV | 15,549 | 80 | 1.0x |
| Bridgeport, WV | 9,252 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Brookhaven, WV | 6,212 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Buckhannon, WV | 5,116 | 87 | 1.0x |
