What is the cost of living in Fairmont, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fairmont has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Fairmont has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Fairmont ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Fairmont ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Fairmont, check out:
Fairmont Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fairmont. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fairmont is 98.
The Groceries index in Fairmont is 93.
The Health index in Fairmont is 71.
The Housing index in Fairmont is 95.
The Transportation index in Fairmont is 92.
The Utilities index in Fairmont is 92.
| Living Expense | Fairmont | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Fairmont 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
Fairmont, 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 Fairmont is $185,554.
The Median Rent in Fairmont is $916.
The Median Income in Fairmont is $63,032.
The Home Value To Income in Fairmont is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fairmont is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Fairmont | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $185,554 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $916 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,032 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.9x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Fairmont, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Fairmont Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Fairmont | 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 Fairmont Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Fairmont | 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 Fairmont Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Fairmont | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $126.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.65 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fairmont Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Fairmont | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $47.54 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fairmont Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Fairmont | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $178.61 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.45 | $192.25 |
Fairmont SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fairmont
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fairmont. 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 Fairmont.
Clarksburg, WV has a cost of living index of 80, 0.9x Fairmont.
Bridgeport, WV has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Fairmont.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fairmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | 30,236 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Clarksburg, WV | 15,549 | 80 | 0.9x |
| Bridgeport, WV | 9,252 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Brookhaven, WV | 6,212 | 95 | 1.1x |
