Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Huntington?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Huntington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $30,000 in Huntington.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Huntington?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Huntington Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 40% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio

$883

$762

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$758

+30% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$881

+38% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,121

+44% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$118,800

+54% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$43,146

+40% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$44,600

+28% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

34.9 yr

+6.3 yr in Huntington, WV

Homeownership

40.5%

52.5%

+12.0 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

34.5%

+8.0 pp in Huntington, WV

Avg Commute

14.1 min

18.6 min

+4.5 min in Huntington, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

800.3

+10% in Huntington, WV

Property Crime

3,504.2

3,617.9

+3% 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

27.7°F

55.7°F

+28.0°F in Huntington, WV

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

42.6 in

+31.8 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

15.4

+45% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$24.68

+42% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Huntington, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WV)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.82%

+4.8 pp in WV

Fairbanks vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Huntington?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Huntington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Huntington?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).