Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 34% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Grand Rapids, MI
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$992
$762
+23% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$964
$758
+21% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$881
+27% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,121
+21% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$118,800
+47% in Grand Rapids, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$43,146
+34% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$44,600
+6% in Grand Rapids, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
34.9 yr
+2.8 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
54.6%
52.5%
+2.1 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
34.5%
+5.6 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
18.6 min
+0.8 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
800.3
+12% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
2,506.2
3,617.9
+44% 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
49.1°F
55.7°F
+6.6°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
42.6 in
+4.3 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Huntington, WV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.4
+33% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$24.68
+25% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Huntington, WV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Grand Rapids, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Grand Rapids, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Grand Rapids, MI
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 (MI / WV)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
4.82%
+0.6 pp in WV

Grand Rapids vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Rapids than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Grand Rapids versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or Huntington?
Grand Rapids is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).