What is the cost of living in Princeton, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Princeton has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Princeton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Princeton ranks as #19 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Princeton ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Princeton, check out:
Princeton Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Princeton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Princeton is 103.
The Groceries index in Princeton is 103.
The Health index in Princeton is 61.
The Housing index in Princeton is 101.
The Transportation index in Princeton is 102.
The Utilities index in Princeton is 102.
| Living Expense | Princeton | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 61 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 93 | 100 |
Princeton 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
Princeton, 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 Princeton is $166,769.
The Median Rent in Princeton is $747.
The Median Income in Princeton is $43,900.
The Home Value To Income in Princeton is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Princeton is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Princeton | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $166,769 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $747 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $43,900 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Princeton, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Princeton Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Princeton | 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 Princeton Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Princeton | 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 Princeton Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Princeton | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $130.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $159.79 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Princeton Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Princeton | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $80.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Princeton Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Princeton | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $200.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Princeton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Princeton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Princeton. 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, 1.3x Princeton.
Christiansburg, VA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Princeton.
Radford, VA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Princeton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | 120 | 1.3x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Radford, VA | 16,726 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Bluefield, WV | 9,387 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Pulaski, VA | 8,893 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Wytheville, VA | 8,202 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Oak Hill, WV | 7,937 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Marion, VA | 5,670 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Richlands, VA | 5,171 | 86 | 0.9x |
