Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 46% higher in Los Angeles, CA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$762
$1,468
+93% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,688
+123% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$881
$2,148
+144% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$2,489
+122% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$879,500
+640% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$80,366
+86% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$55,850
+25% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
52.5%
36.3%
+16.2 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
37.8%
+3.3 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
18.6 min
31.1 min
+12.5 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
730.3
+9% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
1,501.4
+59% 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
67.0°F
+11.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
21.2 in
+21.4 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.53/gal
+41% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs LA Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
34.7
+125% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$20.33
+18% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
13.30%
+8.5 pp in CA

Huntington vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Los Angeles?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Los Angeles?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).