City comparison
Huntington, WV vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Utica, NY are 4.8% higher than in Huntington, WV. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntington, WV would need about $104,800 in Utica, NY to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $926 a month in Utica, NY versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Utica, NY and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $975 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Huntington, WV.
- 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by −4.6%, purely from prices.
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntington, WV | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.4 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,813 in Utica | $95,408 in Huntington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $853/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,295 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,885 (WV) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,600 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntington | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 51.3 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 88.4 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntington, WV → Utica, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$975/yr.
54 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Huntington, WV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$975/yr.
84 Strong 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 Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntington, WV | Utica, NY | Real change, Huntington → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntington, WV | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Huntington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,450 | $77,010 | $73,474 (+27.9%) |
| Software Developers | $110,780 | $113,390 | $108,183 (−2.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,840 | $79,830 | $76,164 (+7.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $94,300 | $89,970 (+11.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.