Cheat Lake, WV vs Dunbar, WV

The cost of living difference between Cheat Lake, WV and Dunbar, WV is dramatic. Dunbar is 37.7% cheaper than Cheat Lake, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Cheat Lake has a cost index of 94 while Dunbar sits at 69, 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 Cheat Lake is $1,113/month compared to $904/month in Dunbar — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Dunbar is more affordable at $121,100 median vs $345,500.

Median household income in Cheat Lake is $111,379 compared to $54,647 in Dunbar (+103.8%). While Cheat Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cheat Lake spend roughly 12% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Dunbar.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.8°F vs 56.2°F). Dunbar receives more rainfall at 46.2" per year compared to 43.2" in Cheat Lake.