Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Lincoln?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Lincoln?

Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Huntington vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 38% higher in Lincoln, NE. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$762

$851

+12% in Lincoln, NE

1 Bedroom

$758

$879

+16% in Lincoln, NE

2 Bedroom

$881

$1,070

+21% in Lincoln, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,379

+23% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$118,800

$248,200

+109% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$43,146

$69,991

+62% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,600

$49,800

+12% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

33.4 yr

+1.5 yr in Huntington, WV

Homeownership

52.5%

55.8%

+3.3 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.5%

41.0%

+6.5 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

18.6 min

18.3 min

+0.3 min in Huntington, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

800.3

363.1

+55% in Huntington, WV

Property Crime

3,617.9

2,484.4

+31% 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

51.5°F

+4.2°F in Huntington, WV

Annual Precipitation

42.6 in

30.9 in

+11.7 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).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

13.3

+14% in Huntington, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$20.10

+19% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Lincoln, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Huntington, WV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Lincoln, NE

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / NE)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

4.55%

+0.3 pp in WV

Huntington vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Lincoln?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Lincoln?: Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).