Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Albuquerque, NM versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 34% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$797
$762
+4% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$758
+15% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$881
+23% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,121
+23% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$118,800
+55% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$43,146
+34% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$44,600
+7% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
34.9 yr
+3.8 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
52.5%
+9.0 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
34.5%
+4.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.6 min
+3.6 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
800.3
+33% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
3,617.9
+24% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
55.7°F
+1.5°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
42.6 in
+33.1 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Huntington, WV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
15.4
+3% in Huntington, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$24.68
+165% in Huntington, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Huntington, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / WV)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
4.82%
+1.1 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Huntington?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).