Port Allen, LA vs Barboursville, WV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Barboursville, WV has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% lower than Port Allen, LA.

Port Allen, LA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / month
Barboursville, WV · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Port Allen, LA and Barboursville, WV using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
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Estimated savings: $360/month in Barboursville, WV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,683 in Barboursville, WV

Regional cost estimates: Port Allen, LA uses Baton Rouge, LA. Barboursville, WV uses Columbus, OH. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$360
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.3K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Port Allen, LA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
83.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$206K

Barboursville, WV

Population:4K
Cost Index:
78.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$205K

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Port Allen, LA

The Pelican State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Louisiana, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Barboursville, WV

The Mountain State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in West Virginia, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Port Allen, LA vs Barboursville, WV

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 16.0%
Port Allen, LA
$1,902
Barboursville, WV
$1,597
Difference
$305
less
Housing
↓ 8.7%
Port Allen, LA
$2,075
Barboursville, WV
$1,896
Difference
$180
less
Healthcare
↑ 25.6%
Port Allen, LA
$532
Barboursville, WV
$668
Difference
$136
more
Transportation
↑ 4.2%
Port Allen, LA
$1,345
Barboursville, WV
$1,401
Difference
$56.27
more
All Utilities
↓ 7.0%
Port Allen, LA
$550
Barboursville, WV
$511
Difference
$38.52
less
Groceries
↓ 2.6%
Port Allen, LA
$1,096
Barboursville, WV
$1,067
Difference
$28.83
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$960
To$870
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$980
To$880
↓ $100
2 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,000
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,280
↓ $100
Port Allen, LAZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$980/mo

Barboursville, WVZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Port Allen, LA
$7,140
Monthly in Barboursville, WV
$360
Difference

Home Values

Port Allen
Barboursville
$206K
Median Value
$205K
↑ +1.5%
YoY Change
↑ +6.1%
↑ +15.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +39.7%
Calculate payment - Port AllenCalculate payment - Barboursville

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $875
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$72.92
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Port Allen, LA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Louisiana State Tax
Effective: 5.2%
$7.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.8%
$44.8K
Take-Home Pay
$8,770/month
$105.2K

Barboursville, WV

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
West Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.8%
$8.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.4%
$45.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,697/month
$104.4K

Additional Tax Information

Port Allen, LA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.6%
Property Tax:0.5%

Barboursville, WV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.7%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Port Allen
Barboursville
51 Moderate
Air Quality
53 Moderate
48.9%
Good Air Days
41.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
51 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
51 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Port Allen, LA to Barboursville, WV

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Barboursville, WV for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Port Allen, LA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Port Allen to Barboursville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Barboursville, WV by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Port Allen, LA vs Barboursville, WV

How do the cost estimates for Port Allen, LA and Barboursville, WV compare?

Barboursville, WV has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% lower than Port Allen, LA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Port Allen, LA, the model estimates $145,683 in Barboursville, WV. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Port Allen, LA and Barboursville, WV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Port Allen, LA and $1,000/month in Barboursville, WV. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Louisiana and West Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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