Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 34% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$762
+25% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$758
+28% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$881
+31% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,121
+18% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$118,800
+49% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$43,146
+34% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$44,600
+13% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.9 yr
+1.9 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
44.3%
52.5%
+8.2 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
34.5%
+3.7 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
18.6 min
+3.2 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
800.3
+65% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,093.9
3,617.9
+17% in Huntington, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
55.7°F
+3.0°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
42.6 in
+2.5 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in Huntington, WV

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
15.4
+19% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$24.68
+8% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Columbus, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Huntington, WV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / WV)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.82%
+2.1 pp in WV

Columbus vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Huntington?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).