Cost of Living Comparison Between Darlington and Parkersburg, WV Cost of Living Comparison Between Darlington and Parkersburg, WV

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,657 per month in Darlington vs $1,864 in Parkersburg, WV, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,668 per month in Darlington vs $2,716 in Parkersburg, WV, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,680 per month in Darlington vs $3,568 in Parkersburg, WV, rent included.

Darlington is about 11% cheaper than Parkersburg, WV, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Darlington and Parkersburg, WV sit above the global median – Darlington by 21%, Parkersburg, WV by 36%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.78 £10.93

$14.73 $14.73

0.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 £45.85

$57.8 $57.8

7.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.45 £6.98

$9.50 $9.50

-0.53%

Cappuccino

$3.65 £2.70

$4.23 $4.23

-13.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 £1.63

$2.31 $2.31

-4.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 £1.48

$1.94 $1.94

3.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 £3.31

$2.77 $2.77

61.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 £3.16

$4.44 $4.44

-3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 £0.94

$0.76 $0.76

67.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 £1.02

$2.72 $2.72

-49.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 £1.80

$3.77 $3.77

-35.28%

Eggs

$3.79 £2.80

$1.94 $1.94

95.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 £5.98

$11.03 $11.03

-26.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 £5.45

$22.21 $22.21

-66.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 £7.06

$16.49 $16.49

-42.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 £2.50

$4.84 $4.84

-29.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 £0.97

$1.75 $1.75

-25.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 £2.66

$2.85 $2.85

26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 £2.76

$5.30 $5.30

-29.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 £1.25

$1.71 $1.71

-0.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 £1.35

$2.74 $2.74

-33.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 £0.90

$1.68 $1.68

-27.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 £0.81

$1.65 $1.65

-33.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$22.44 £16.59

$6.96 $6.96

222.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.36 £6.92

$18.82 $18.82

-50.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 £1.60

$1.72 $1.72

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 £2.29

$1.82 $1.82

69.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 £2.04

$0.98 $0.98

181.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 £62.5

$50.3 $50.3

68.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 £2.98

$5.08 $5.08

-20.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.31 £12.05

$14.96 $14.96

9.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 £1.47

$0.93 $0.93

112.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K £15.3K

$36.0K $36.0K

-42.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.4K £23.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

23.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$267 £197

$200 $200

33.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.21 £11.98

$51.7 $51.7

-68.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.31 £31.27

$58.7 $58.7

-27.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.03 £29.59

$11.19 $11.19

257.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.67 £4.93

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 £4.92

$13.57 $13.57

-50.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$834 £616

$538 $538

54.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,377 $6,377

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 £50.3

$40.07 $40.07

69.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 £41.59

$47.16 $47.16

19.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 £86.0

$68.7 $68.7

69.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 £93.6

$122 $122

3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 £504

$871 $871

-21.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 £395

$697 $697

-23.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 £1,103

$1,369 $1,369

9.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,237 £915

$993 $993

24.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,495 £1,845

$1,169 $1,169

113.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,173 $1,173

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,779 £2,055

$1,788 $1,788

55.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.15

-8.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Darlington: August 30, 2026

Last update for Parkersburg, WV: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Darlington versus $871 in Parkersburg, WV. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Darlington, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Darlington versus $58.0 in Parkersburg, WV. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Darlington vs $411 in Parkersburg, WV – so Darlington wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Darlington vs Parkersburg, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Parkersburg, WV is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,485 per month in Darlington and $2,796 in Parkersburg, WV. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Darlington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 68% less in Darlington. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $834 per month in Darlington and $538 in Parkersburg, WV. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Darlington, where all-in costs run around $1,657, than in Parkersburg, WV at $1,864. In Darlington it covers expenses comfortably, while in Parkersburg, WV it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Darlington – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Darlington. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Parkersburg, WV makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.