City comparison
Huntington, WV vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Huntington, WV (88.4) and Springfield, MO (88.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Huntington, WV goes as far as $100,200 in Springfield, MO.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $853 a month in Huntington, WV and $883 in Springfield, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,885 a year in WV and $3,763 in MO.
- 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 Springfield, MO changes real buying power by −0.2%, purely from prices.
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntington, WV | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.4 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,184 in Springfield | $99,816 in Huntington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $853/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,295 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,885 (WV) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,600 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntington | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 51.3 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 88.4 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntington, WV → Springfield, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$122/yr.
68 Fair offer
Springfield, MO → Huntington, WV
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$122/yr.
69 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 Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntington, WV | Springfield, MO | Real change, Huntington → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntington, WV | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Huntington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,450 | $49,380 | $49,289 (−14.2%) |
| Software Developers | $110,780 | $102,350 | $102,162 (−7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,840 | $73,020 | $72,886 (+2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $79,370 | $79,224 (−2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.