What is the cost of living in St. Albans, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Albans has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, St. Albans has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in St. Albans ranks as #19 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies St. Albans ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in St. Albans, check out:
St. Albans Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Albans. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Albans is 96.
The Groceries index in St. Albans is 94.
The Health index in St. Albans is 72.
The Housing index in St. Albans is 92.
The Transportation index in St. Albans is 98.
The Utilities index in St. Albans is 98.
| Living Expense | St. Albans | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 72 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 93 | 100 |
St. Albans 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
St. Albans, 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 St. Albans is $148,169.
The Median Rent in St. Albans is $931.
The Median Income in St. Albans is $53,972.
The Home Value To Income in St. Albans is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Albans is 0.21x.
| Statistic | St. Albans | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $148,169 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $931 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,972 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.7x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
St. Albans, WV Costs By Category
Detailed St. Albans Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | St. Albans | 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 St. Albans Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | St. Albans | 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 St. Albans Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | St. Albans | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $172.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $158.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Albans Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | St. Albans | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Albans Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | St. Albans | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $189.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.09 | $192.25 |
St. Albans SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Albans
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Albans. 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, 1.0x St. Albans.
Teays Valley, WV has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x St. Albans.
South Charleston, WV has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x St. Albans.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 47,421 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Teays Valley, WV | 14,151 | 102 | 1.1x |
| South Charleston, WV | 13,457 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Cross Lanes, WV | 9,671 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Dunbar, WV | 7,254 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Hurricane, WV | 6,855 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Nitro, WV | 6,853 | 83 | 0.9x |
