Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 35% higher in Providence, RI. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$1,116
+46% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$758
$1,030
+36% in Providence, RI
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,323
+50% in Providence, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,627
+45% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$322,800
+172% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$66,772
+55% in Providence, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$53,680
+20% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
32.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
52.5%
41.2%
+11.3 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
34.7%
+0.2 pp in Providence, RI
Avg Commute
18.6 min
25.0 min
+6.4 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
282.4
+65% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
1,665.6
+54% 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
51.6°F
+4.1°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
47.2 in
+4.6 in in Providence, RI

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
29.2
+89% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$25.75
+4% in Providence, RI

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / RI)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
5.99%
+1.2 pp in RI

Huntington vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Providence?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Providence?
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 Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Providence?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).