City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Huntington, WV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Columbus, GA (89.3) and Huntington, WV (88.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Columbus, GA goes as far as $99,000 in Huntington, WV.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $939 a month in Columbus, GA versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Columbus, GA and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $682 a year higher in Columbus, GA than in Huntington, WV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.4% moving from Columbus, GA to Huntington, WV ($112,556 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.5% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbus, GA | Huntington, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 88.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,021 in Huntington | $100,988 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/mo | $853/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,295 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,885 (WV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $44,600 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Huntington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 51.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 88.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Huntington, WV
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$682/yr.
72 Strong offer
Huntington, WV → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$682/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Huntington, WV is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, GA to Huntington, WV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Huntington, WV | Real change, Columbus → Huntington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $61,722 | −4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $74,678 | −4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $89,508 | −4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $106,437 | −4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $125,776 | −4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Huntington, WV | Huntington pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,360 | $57,450 | $58,018 (−5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $110,780 | $111,875 (−3.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $70,840 | $71,540 (−2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $81,010 | $81,811 (−0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.