Cost of Living in Huntington, WV
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Huntington, WV to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Huntington, WV?
With a price level of 88.4 (U.S. average = 100), Huntington, WV is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 49% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Huntington, WV vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.4 | −11.6% |
| Housing | 51.3 | −48.7% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 87.9 | −12.1% |
| Other services | 99.4 | −0.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Huntington, WV
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $824 | $32,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $829 | $33,160/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $976 | $39,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,272 | $50,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,421 | $56,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Huntington, WV
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Huntington, WV | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,400 | $29,678 |
| $60,000 | $53,100 | $43,188 |
| $80,000 | $70,700 | $56,095 |
| $100,000 | $88,400 | $67,693 |
| $150,000 | $132,600 | $96,442 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, West Virginia 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Huntington, WV's median wage of $44,600 takes home about $3,061 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $829, which is 27% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,232 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Huntington, WV
- Federal income tax$3,172
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,765
- Medicare (1.45%)$647
- West Virginia income tax$1,281
- Take-home pay$36,735
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.44% state
Highest-paying jobs in Huntington, WV
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,010 | $62,851 | $71,080 |
| General and Operations Manager | $77,350 | $60,452 | $68,368 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,060 | $31,727 | $35,881 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $30,980 | $26,274 | $29,714 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $28,740 | $24,549 | $27,763 |
| Retail Salesperson | $28,220 | $24,143 | $27,304 |
| Cashier | $27,080 | $23,242 | $26,285 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $23,500 | $20,400 | $23,071 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,610 | $19,693 | $22,272 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in West Virginia cities
Half of West Virginia’s 701,610 workers earn less than $45,300 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $31,530–$64,940 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Washington, DC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Beckley, WV is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $71,060 | 108.9 | $1,990 | 42% | $2,704 | $51,734 |
| Huntington, WV | $44,600 | 88.4 | $829 | 27% | $2,232 | $41,545 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $47,440 | 94.2 | $952 | 29% | $2,289 | $41,298 |
| Charleston, WV | $45,830 | 88.7 | $813 | 26% | $2,326 | $42,460 |
| Winchester, VA | $47,070 | 96.5 | $1,255 | 39% | $1,963 | $40,031 |
| Morgantown, WV | $47,350 | 93.3 | $877 | 27% | $2,358 | $41,600 |
| Wheeling, WV | $44,250 | 88.3 | $816 | 27% | $2,223 | $41,291 |
| Beckley, WV | $41,850 | 88.4 | $711 | 25% | $2,176 | $39,206 |
| Parkersburg, WV | $42,000 | 87.1 | $745 | 26% | $2,152 | $39,925 |
| Weirton, WV | $45,840 | 89.0 | $757 | 24% | $2,383 | $42,322 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Huntington, WV vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 88.4 | $829 | $44,600 | 140,740 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 89.0 | $800 | $49,360 | 139,260 |
| Rockford, IL | 92.2 | $895 | $47,120 | 137,650 |
| Vallejo, CA | 108.5 | $1,705 | $58,620 | 144,130 |
| Evansville, IN | 91.5 | $860 | $46,540 | 135,250 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 93.6 | $1,229 | $37,930 | 146,260 |
| Flint, MI | 93.0 | $856 | $45,880 | 135,040 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Huntington, WV expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area are 88.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 51.3%. It is the #325 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Huntington, WV?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,053 in Huntington, WV (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $44,600.
Can you afford Huntington, WV on the median wage?
A single worker on the $44,600 median wage takes home about $3,061 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $829 would take 27% of that.
How much is rent in Huntington, WV?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Huntington, WV are $824 for a studio, $829 for one bedroom, $976 for two bedrooms and $1,272 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Huntington, WV
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $77,350
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,010
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $28,740
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,500
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,610
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $28,220
- Cashier — $27,080
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $38,060
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $30,980