City comparison
Huntington, WV vs Kingsport, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Huntington, WV are 2.3% higher than in Kingsport, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Kingsport, TN would need about $102,300 in Huntington, WV to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $853 a month in Huntington, WV and $818 in Kingsport, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,885 a year higher in Huntington, WV than in Kingsport, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Huntington, WV to Kingsport, TN changes real buying power by +2.3%, purely from prices.
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
- Kingsport, TN: price level 86.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntington, WV | Kingsport, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.4 | 86.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,766 in Kingsport | $102,285 in Huntington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $853/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,295 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,885 (WV) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,600 | $45,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA. Metro areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntington | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 51.3 | 56.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 75.9 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 95.8 |
| Overall | 88.4 | 86.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntington, WV → Kingsport, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$3,885/yr.
76 Strong offer
Kingsport, TN → Huntington, WV
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$3,885/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntington, WV to Kingsport, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntington, WV | Kingsport, TN | Real change, Huntington → Kingsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntington, WV | Kingsport, TN | Kingsport pay in Huntington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,450 | $58,130 | $59,458 (+3.5%) |
| Software Developers | $110,780 | $115,310 | $117,944 (+6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,840 | $75,940 | $77,675 (+9.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $76,730 | $78,483 (−3.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.