City comparison
Huntington, WV vs San Diego, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 26.5% higher than in Huntington, WV. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntington, WV would need about $126,500 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,185 a year higher in San Diego, CA than in Huntington, WV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.2% moving from Huntington, WV to San Diego, CA ($106,437 → $121,585), while prices change by +26.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.7% in real buying power.
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntington, WV | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.4 | 111.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $126,538 in San Diego | $79,028 in Huntington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $853/mo | $2,459/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,295 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,885 (WV) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 40% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,600 | $58,690 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA |
Rent areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA. Metro areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntington | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 51.3 | 179.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 108.0 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 174.2 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 88.4 | 111.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntington, WV → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −21.0%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$1,185/yr.
15 Weak offer
San Diego, CA → Huntington, WV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +26.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,185/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntington, WV is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; San Diego, CA is in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntington, WV to San Diego, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntington, WV | San Diego, CA | Real change, Huntington → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,507 | −9.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,307 | −9.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,246 | −9.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,585 | −9.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,677 | −9.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntington, WV | San Diego, CA | San Diego pay in Huntington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,450 | $97,000 | $76,657 (+33.4%) |
| Software Developers | $110,780 | $163,270 | $129,029 (+16.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,840 | $96,340 | $76,136 (+7.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $139,520 | $110,260 (+36.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.