What is the cost of living in Wheeling, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wheeling has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Wheeling has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Wheeling ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Wheeling ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Wheeling, check out:
Wheeling Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wheeling. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wheeling is 99.
The Groceries index in Wheeling is 100.
The Health index in Wheeling is 62.
The Housing index in Wheeling is 99.
The Transportation index in Wheeling is 97.
The Utilities index in Wheeling is 98.
| Living Expense | Wheeling | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 62 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 93 | 100 |
Wheeling 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
Wheeling, 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 Wheeling is $148,166.
The Median Rent in Wheeling is $794.
The Median Income in Wheeling is $48,590.
The Home Value To Income in Wheeling is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wheeling is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Wheeling | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $148,166 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $794 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $48,590 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Wheeling, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Wheeling Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Wheeling | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.77 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.73 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Wheeling Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Wheeling | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.47 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.58 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Wheeling Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Wheeling | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wheeling Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Wheeling | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wheeling Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Wheeling | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Wheeling SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wheeling
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wheeling. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Philadelphia, OH has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Wheeling.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.5x Wheeling.
Whitehall, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Wheeling.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wheeling |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Philadelphia, OH | 17,520 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,235 | 133 | 1.5x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,139 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,209 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,063 | 96 | 1.1x |
| West View, PA | 6,533 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Martins Ferry, OH | 6,140 | 86 | 1.0x |
| St. Clairsville, OH | 5,003 | 100 | 1.1x |
