

Ames vs Huntington
$112/mo less in Huntington
AmesHuntingtonAbout 639 miles apart, a flight.
- Huntington costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,289/mo in Huntington. $2,401/mo in Ames. −$1,344 a year.
Ames
$2,401
left each month
Huntington
$2,289
−$112 vs Ames
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
−$112 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ames | Huntington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,208 | $6,621 | +$413 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,332 | $1,514 | +$182 |
| Take-home pay | $4,877 | $5,108 | +$231 |
| Rent | $760 | $801 | +$41 |
| Getting around | $457 | $607 | +$150 |
| Groceries | $347 | $389 | +$42 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $438 | +$47 |
| Utilities | $217 | $243 | +$26 |
| Everything else | $304 | $341 | +$37 |
| Left over | $2,401 | $2,289 | −$112 |
Salary to match Ames
$81,500
Gross pay in Huntington that leaves the same amount as $74,500 in Ames.
Tax difference
−$715
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 21.4% in Ames, 22.9% in Huntington.
More about Huntington
Ames, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $905 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.
Huntington, WV in full
State income tax topping out at 4.82%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $954 and 199 sunny days; commutes average 24 minutes.
The other way
Start in Huntington.
Huntington → Ames →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Huntington than Ames?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Huntington leaves about $112 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $760 in Ames and $801 in Huntington.
Does Huntington have state income tax?
Huntington is in West Virginia, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Ames to Huntington?
The paycheck is taxed in West Virginia. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Ames and Huntington changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.