Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,320 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 33% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$1,109
+46% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,079
+42% in Pittsburgh, PA
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,269
+44% in Pittsburgh, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,450
+29% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$193,200
+63% in Pittsburgh, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$64,137
+49% in Pittsburgh, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$49,650
+11% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
33.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
52.5%
47.2%
+5.3 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
47.8%
+13.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
18.6 min
23.1 min
+4.5 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
436
+46% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
2,315.7
+36% 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
51.8°F
+3.9°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
39.3 in
+3.3 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
21.7
+41% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$26.08
+6% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.07%
+1.8 pp in WV

Huntington vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Pittsburgh?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Pittsburgh?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).