Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $2,010 in New York City, NY. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 46% higher in New York City, NY. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$1,633
+114% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,705
+125% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,781
+102% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$2,065
+84% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$751,700
+533% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$79,713
+85% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$61,430
+38% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
38.0 yr
+3.1 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
52.5%
32.8%
+19.7 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
41.0%
+6.5 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
18.6 min
40.6 min
+22.0 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
694
+13% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
2,415.4
+33% 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
55.0°F
+0.7°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
49.9 in
+7.3 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.08/gal
+4% in New York City, NY

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
29.5
+91% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$27.01
+9% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in New York City, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Huntington, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / NY)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
10.90%
+6.1 pp in NY

Huntington vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or New York City?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below New York City, NY's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in New York City?
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 New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or New York City?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).