CostIndexUSA

Chicago, IL vs Huntington, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Huntington
88.4
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Huntington is moderately cheaper than Chicago — 14.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chicago, you would need $68,300 in Huntington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing54.2%
Chicago
112
Huntington
51.3
🛒 Groceries10.3%
Chicago
107.3
Huntington
96.3
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Chicago
105.5
Huntington
104.4
🏥 Healthcare1.2%
Chicago
95.5
Huntington
94.4
Utilities+5.1%
Chicago
83.6
Huntington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Huntington, WV
$68,300
$11,700 less needed in Huntington

Formula: salary × (88.4 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.8533. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
112
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Huntington, WV

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

Chicago has 54.2% lower housing costs compared to Huntington.

Income & Job Market

Chicago, IL

Median Household Income
$87,100
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
2,693,976
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyRetail

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).

Chicago, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.