Cost of living comparison
California is 52.2% more expensive than West Virginia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.9% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 38.9% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 19.8% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 71.6% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 51.8% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 8.2% more in California
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, restaurants, and transportation in California are more expensive than in West Virginia. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in California.
If you lived in California instead of West Virginia, you would:
pay 31.9% more for restaurants
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$14.67
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.42
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.76
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 38.9% more for groceries
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.56
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.40
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.05
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.14
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.65
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.70
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.79
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.40
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 19.8% more for transportation
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.31
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$50.00
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,806.12
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.04
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 71.6% more for housing
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.10
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$966.47
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$831.25
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$181.51
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,030.46
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,548.27
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 51.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.88
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.93
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.75
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.75
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.50
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 8.2% more for clothing
|
West Virginia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.18
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.61
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.59
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$101.64
|
$117.31
|
|
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