CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Huntington, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Huntington
88.4
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Huntington is slightly cheaper than Des Moines — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Des Moines, you would need $77,100 in Huntington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing39.4%
Des Moines
84.7
Huntington
51.3
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Des Moines
93.7
Huntington
96.3
🚗 Transportation+7.0%
Des Moines
97.6
Huntington
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+6.9%
Des Moines
88.3
Huntington
94.4
Utilities+3.9%
Des Moines
84.6
Huntington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Des Moines to see what you'd need to earn in Huntington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Huntington, WV
$77,100
$2,900 less needed in Huntington

Formula: salary × (88.4 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 0.9640. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Des Moines, IA

Median Home Price
$285,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
84.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Huntington, WV

Median Home Price
$156,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,025
Housing Index
51.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Des Moines has 39.4% lower housing costs compared to Huntington.

Income & Job Market

Des Moines, IA

Median Household Income
$82,700
Per Capita Income
$47,100
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
214,237
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturing

Huntington, WV

Median Household Income
$57,800
Per Capita Income
$32,900
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
43,265
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Des Moines, IA
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

Huntington, WV
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.