A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Huntington West Virginia National
Cost of living8685100
Goods & Services9595100
Groceries10098100
Health care10197100
Housing6162100
Transportation9494100
Utilities9896100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Huntington, WV

The cost of living in Huntington affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Huntington is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Huntington?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 5 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Huntington. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 60% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 40% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Huntington Affordable?

Wondering if Huntington is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Huntington, for example, the median home price is 45.7% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 23.4% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Huntington boasting a median household income of $33,012, which is 40.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Huntington?

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Huntington, the utilities index registers 2.5% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Huntington, the groceries index is 0.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Huntington displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Huntington is 1% higher than the West Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Huntington is 14% lower than the national average
  • Huntington housing is 39% lower than the national average
  • West Virginia general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • West Virginia state income tax is 33% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Huntington

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Compare Huntington, WV Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$53,873$4,489$1,257$1,616
      Renters$18,424$1,535$430$553
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Huntington, WV, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Huntington, homeowners have a median income of $53,873. Using that number, a maximum of $1,257 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $18,424, which means there is a maximum of $430 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      West Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      West Virginia 6% 7%

      West Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      West Virginia 3% 6.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Huntington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $18.78$24.2622.6%
      Beauty Salon $46.22$45.561.4%
      Toothpaste $3.56$3.703.8%
      Shampoo $1.18$1.288.1%
      Movie $12.41$12.132.3%
      Bowling $13.67$18.0024.1%

      Groceries

      Item Huntington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.57$5.844.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.0%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.4%
      Potatoes $5.16$4.934.6%
      Pizza $11.31$12.096.4%
      Beer $10.19$10.412.1%

      Health Care

      Item Huntington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $172.33$125.6837.1%
      Doctor $158.83$135.7817.0%
      Dentist $107.83$113.294.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.49$10.651.5%
      Lipitor $355.05$468.6024.2%

      Housing

      Item Huntington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $100,300.00$184,700.0045.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,346.93$2,346.6942.6%
      Apartment Rent $727.00$949.0023.4%

      Transportation

      Item Huntington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.36$3.463.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.00$59.9213.2%

      Utilities

      Item Huntington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $189.47$193.992.3%
      Phone $186.09$192.253.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Salt Rock, WV158973.5%
      Prichard, WV321973.5%
      Catlettsburg, KY1,8348020.3%
      Kenova, WV3,0118019.6%
      Lavalette, WV1,2568119.2%
      Huntington, WV46,1398614.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Horizon West, FL46,20412626.5%
      Littleton, CO46,20813535.3%
      West Vancouver, BC46,220n/a 
      Mission, BC46,224n/a 
      Quinte West, ON46,045n/a 
      Huntington, WV46,1398614.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.