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Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

Cost-of-living indicators for Parkersburg-Vienna, WV, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

87.1
Overall RPP
#352
of 387 metros
45.9
Rents RPP
$115K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Parkersburg costs less than 91% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 87.1, 12.9% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 45.9.

87.1
overall cost index (US average = 100)
#352
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
bottom 9%
by overall cost, nationwide
45.9
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $114,855 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $87,066.

What the Numbers Mean for Parkersburg

Parkersburg ranks #352 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 87.1, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV is 12.9% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Parkersburg's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 45.9 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $114,855 inside Parkersburg, while a household needs roughly $87,066 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 45.9 — 54.1% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Parkersburg's overall index has stayed within 0.0 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.3 and services at 92.9, meaning everyday spending in Parkersburg is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Parkersburg vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

87 Top 91% higher than 9% of 387 US metros

80–84: 3 US metros (1%). Below this entry. 84–88: 48 US metros (12%). This entry sits in this band. 88–92: 94 US metros (24%). Above this entry. 92–96: 97 US metros (25%). Above this entry. 96–100: 55 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 100–104: 54 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 104–108: 17 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 108–112: 14 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 112–116: 5 US metros (1%). Above this entry. 116–120: 0 US metros (0%). Above this entry. This metro 80 120 every US metro, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Parkersburg cost breakdown

BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average

RPP

What this shows Parkersburg's gap from the national average is led by rents at 45.9. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities As of 2024

Goods vs. housing — where Parkersburg's cost comes from

Metros near Parkersburg's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 59.7). Parkersburg is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Parkersburg's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 59.7). Parkersburg is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Parkersburg's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures. 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 7 entities by Goods RPP (tradable items) → (X) and Rents RPP (housing) → (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Pricier on bothMore housing-ledMore goods-ledCheaper on both 9394959697 404550556065 Goods RPP (tradable items) → Rents RPP (housing) → ParkersburgWaterlooMinotLaredoLafayetteDecaturDubuque
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 59.7). Parkersburg is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Parkersburg's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

87.1

-12.9 below avg

Goods

96.3

-3.7 below avg

Services

92.9

-7.1 below avg

Rents

45.9

-54.1 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$87,066

in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV purchasing power

$50,000 nationally
$43,533
$75,000 nationally
$65,300
$125,000 nationally
$108,833
$150,000 nationally
$130,599
$200,000 nationally
$174,132

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 0.0 points over this period.

Year Overall
2008 87.0
2009 86.3
2010 87.0
2011 88.5
2012 91.6
2013 91.7
2014 90.6
2015 92.7
2016 92.7
2017 91.2
2018 89.6
2019 88.0
2020 86.2
2021 89.7
2022 87.2
2023 88.0
2024 87.1

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Parkersburg-Vienna, WV's index of 87.1.

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 87.1 Minot, ND 87.0 Laredo, TX 87.0 Lafayette, LA 87.2 Decatur, AL 87.2 Dubuque, IA 87.3

Other WV Metros

Morgantown 93.3 Weirton-Steubenville 89.0 Charleston 88.7 Huntington-Ashland 88.4 Beckley 88.4 Wheeling 88.3

View all WV metros →

What this means for Parkersburg

How to read Parkersburg's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.

  • Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $114,855 in Parkersburg. Salary calculator
  • Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 45.9 (54.1% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
  • Local median household income is $56,029; adjusted for Parkersburg's price level that is about $64,352 in national-average buying power.
  • Compare Parkersburg head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

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Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV? ▼
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 87.1, meaning it is 12.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.3, services at 92.9, and rents at 45.9. It ranks #352 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $87,066 in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV. Conversely, $100K earned in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV has the purchasing power of $114,855 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV? ▼
Rents in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV are indexed at 45.9, which is 54.1% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Parkersburg-Vienna, WV getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV's overall cost index changed by +0.0 points (from 87.0 to 87.1). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Parkersburg-Vienna, WV? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Minot, Laredo. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Parkersburg-Vienna, WV's 87.1.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

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Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr