Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,230 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Kansas City, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 36% higher in Kansas City, MO. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$961
+26% in Kansas City, MO
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,031
+36% in Kansas City, MO
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,211
+37% in Kansas City, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,381
+23% in Kansas City, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$227,000
+91% in Kansas City, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$67,449
+56% in Kansas City, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$50,820
+14% in Kansas City, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
35.7 yr
+0.8 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
52.5%
54.6%
+2.1 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
37.8%
+3.3 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
18.6 min
21.9 min
+3.3 min in Kansas City, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
1,557.1
+95% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
3,617.9
4,722.1
+31% in Kansas City, MO

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
56.7°F
+1.0°F in Kansas City, MO
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
39.1 in
+3.5 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
16.2
+5% in Kansas City, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$28.78
+17% in Kansas City, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Kansas City, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Huntington, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Kansas City, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.70%
+0.1 pp in WV

Huntington vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Kansas City?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Kansas City, MO's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Kansas City?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).