Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ — about 54% higher in Jersey City, NJ. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$1,949
+156% in Jersey City, NJ
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,853
+144% in Jersey City, NJ
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,857
+111% in Jersey City, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$2,004
+79% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$534,500
+350% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$94,813
+120% in Jersey City, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$61,430
+38% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
34.7 yr
+0.2 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
52.5%
28.8%
+23.7 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
53.1%
+18.6 pp in Jersey City, NJ
Avg Commute
18.6 min
36.9 min
+18.3 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
562.9
+30% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
2,036.4
+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
55.7°F
55.0°F
+0.7°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
49.9 in
+7.3 in in Jersey City, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
24.9
+61% in Jersey City, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$17.68
+28% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Jersey City, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Jersey City, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Huntington, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Jersey City, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Jersey City, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Jersey City, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / NJ)
6%
6.625%
+0.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
10.75%
+5.9 pp in NJ

Huntington vs Jersey City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Jersey City?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Jersey City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $74,000 in Jersey City.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Jersey City?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).