Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 23% higher in Montgomery, AL. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$762
$864
+13% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$758
$831
+10% in Montgomery, AL
2 Bedroom
$881
$982
+11% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,172
+5% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$148,500
+25% in Montgomery, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$55,687
+29% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$44,950
+1% in Montgomery, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.2 yr
+1.3 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
52.5%
54.3%
+1.8 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
33.5%
+1.0 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
18.6 min
20.5 min
+1.9 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
605.5
+24% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
2,258.3
+38% 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
65.1°F
+9.4°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
53.1 in
+10.5 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Huntington, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
16.4
+6% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$24.06
+3% in Huntington, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
5.00%
+0.2 pp in AL

Huntington vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Montgomery?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Montgomery, AL's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Montgomery?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).