CostIndexUSA

Birmingham, AL vs Huntington, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Huntington
88.4
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Huntington is slightly cheaper than Birmingham — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Birmingham, you would need $77,200 in Huntington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing28.7%
Birmingham
71.9
Huntington
51.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Birmingham
96.4
Huntington
96.3
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Birmingham
101.5
Huntington
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.7%
Birmingham
91.9
Huntington
94.4
Utilities+4.9%
Birmingham
83.8
Huntington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Birmingham to see what you'd need to earn in Huntington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Huntington, WV
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Huntington

Formula: salary × (88.4 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 0.9651. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Huntington, WV

Median Home Price
$156,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,025
Housing Index
51.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Birmingham has 28.7% lower housing costs compared to Huntington.

Income & Job Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

Huntington, WV

Median Household Income
$57,800
Per Capita Income
$32,900
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
43,265
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Huntington, WV
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.