City comparison
Albany, NY vs Huntington, WV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 12.6% higher than in Huntington, WV. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntington, WV would need about $112,600 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $975 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Huntington, WV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Huntington, WV ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.1% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- 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
| Albany, NY | Huntington, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 88.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,807 in Huntington | $112,603 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $853/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,295 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,885 (WV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $44,600 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Huntington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 51.3 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 88.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Huntington, WV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$975/yr.
100 Strong offer
Huntington, WV → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$975/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Huntington, WV is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Huntington, WV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Huntington, WV | Real change, Albany → Huntington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +9.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +9.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +9.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +9.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +9.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Huntington, WV | Huntington pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $57,450 | $64,691 (−18.4%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $110,780 | $124,742 (−2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $70,840 | $79,768 (−5.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $81,010 | $91,220 (−8.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.