Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Memphis?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Memphis?

Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Huntington vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 16% higher in Memphis, TN. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$762

$877

+15% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$758

$948

+25% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$881

$1,073

+22% in Memphis, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,281

+14% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$118,800

$157,100

+32% in Memphis, TN

Income

Median Household Income

$43,146

$51,211

+19% in Memphis, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,600

$46,890

+5% in Memphis, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

34.3 yr

+0.6 yr in Huntington, WV

Homeownership

52.5%

46.0%

+6.5 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.5%

28.2%

+6.3 pp in Huntington, WV

Avg Commute

18.6 min

21.3 min

+2.7 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

800.3

2,507.6

+213% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

3,617.9

6,966.3

+93% in Memphis, TN

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

63.1°F

+7.4°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

42.6 in

53.7 in

+11.1 in in Memphis, TN

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)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.1

+9% in Huntington, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$19.75

+20% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / TN)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

None

+4.8 pp in WV

Huntington vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Memphis?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Memphis?: Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).