Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 38% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$818
+7% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$758
$827
+9% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$881
$957
+9% in Idaho Falls, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,278
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$298,600
+151% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$69,630
+61% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$46,800
+5% in Idaho Falls, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
33.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
52.5%
64.1%
+11.6 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
31.0%
+3.5 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
18.6 min
18.2 min
+0.4 min in Huntington, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
365.3
+54% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
1,235.5
+66% 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
55.7°F
44.2°F
+11.5°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
10.4 in
+32.2 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
14.4
+7% in Huntington, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$11.33
+54% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Huntington, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / ID)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
5.30%
+0.5 pp in ID

Huntington vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Idaho Falls?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Idaho Falls?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).