City comparison
Huntington, WV vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 9.6% higher than in Huntington, WV. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntington, WV would need about $109,600 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,885 a year in WV and $3,919 in WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Huntington, WV to Milwaukee, WI ($106,437 → $111,310), while prices change by +9.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.6% in real buying power.
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntington, WV | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.4 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $109,630 in Milwaukee | $91,216 in Huntington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $853/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,295 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,885 (WV) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,600 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntington | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 51.3 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 88.4 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntington, WV → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$34/yr.
41 Weak offer
Milwaukee, WI → Huntington, WV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$34/yr.
99 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntington, WV is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Milwaukee, WI is in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntington, WV to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntington, WV | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, Huntington → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,548 | −4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,098 | −4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,606 | −4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,310 | −4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,535 | −4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntington, WV | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in Huntington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,450 | $61,480 | $56,080 (−2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $110,780 | $123,730 | $112,861 (+1.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,840 | $80,290 | $73,237 (+3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $97,360 | $88,808 (+9.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.