Barboursville, WV vs St. Marys, WV

The cost of living difference between Barboursville, WV and St. Marys, WV is dramatic. St. Marys is 34.6% cheaper than Barboursville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Barboursville has a cost index of 76 while St. Marys sits at 56, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Barboursville is $916/month compared to $467/month in St. Marys — a 96% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Marys is more affordable at $129,400 median vs $212,000.

Median household income in Barboursville is $59,531 compared to $59,315 in St. Marys (+0.4%). Barboursville does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Barboursville spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, more than the 9.4% in St. Marys.