Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Norfolk?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $41,000 in Norfolk.

Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Norfolk?

Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Huntington vs Norfolk Cost of Living 2026

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 33% higher in Norfolk, VA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV

Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio

$762

$1,102

+45% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$758

$1,032

+36% in Norfolk, VA

2 Bedroom

$881

$1,214

+38% in Norfolk, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,602

+43% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$118,800

$271,900

+129% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$43,146

$64,017

+48% in Norfolk, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,600

$49,430

+11% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

32.4 yr

+2.5 yr in Huntington, WV

Homeownership

52.5%

45.7%

+6.8 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.5%

32.7%

+1.8 pp in Huntington, WV

Avg Commute

18.6 min

22.9 min

+4.3 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

800.3

479.5

+40% in Huntington, WV

Property Crime

3,617.9

3,800.7

+5% in Norfolk, VA

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

61.3°F

+5.6°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

42.6 in

44.8 in

+2.2 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

17.2

+11% in Norfolk, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$27.20

+10% in Norfolk, VA

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 / VA)

5.3%

+0.7 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

5.75%

+0.9 pp in VA

Huntington vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Norfolk?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Norfolk?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Norfolk?: Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).