Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 17% higher in Milwaukee, WI. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$762
$841
+10% in Milwaukee, WI
1 Bedroom
$758
$849
+12% in Milwaukee, WI
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,031
+17% in Milwaukee, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,193
+6% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$172,000
+45% in Milwaukee, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$51,888
+20% in Milwaukee, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$51,160
+15% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
32.2 yr
+2.7 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
52.5%
41.5%
+11.0 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
26.6%
+7.9 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
18.6 min
22.4 min
+3.8 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
1,452.3
+81% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
3,617.9
2,772.2
+23% 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
47.9°F
+7.8°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
34.8 in
+7.8 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)
—
$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
19.6
+27% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$18.17
+26% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Milwaukee, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Huntington, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Milwaukee, WI
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 / WI)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
7.65%
+2.8 pp in WI

Huntington vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Milwaukee?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Milwaukee?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).