A+
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
8%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Morgantown West Virginia National
Cost of living9985100
Goods & Services9595100
Groceries9698100
Health care9297100
Housing10862100
Transportation9494100
Utilities9496100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Morgantown, WV

Understanding the cost of living in Morgantown can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Morgantown cost of living index is 99, which is 1% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

In Morgantown, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Morgantown will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Morgantown?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Morgantown. The feedback revealed that 40% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 60% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Morgantown Affordable?

Is Morgantown affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Morgantown, for instance, where the median home price falls 16.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 11.5% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Morgantown flaunting a median household income of $42,474, 23.2% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Morgantown?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Morgantown, is 8% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Morgantown, healthcare costs are 7.9% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Morgantown starts at 6% and the income tax rates start at 3%.

Where is the Data From?

The Morgantown cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Morgantown is 16% higher than the West Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Morgantown is 1% lower than the national average
  • Morgantown housing is 8% higher than the national average
  • West Virginia general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • West Virginia state income tax is 16% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Morgantown

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Compare Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$88,026$7,336$2,054$2,641
      Renters$18,965$1,580$442$569
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Morgantown, WV, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Morgantown, homeowners have a median income of $88,026. Using that number, a maximum of $2,054 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $18,965, which means there is a maximum of $442 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      West Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      West Virginia 6% 7%

      West Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      West Virginia 3% 6.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Morgantown National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.44$24.2621.4%
      Beauty Salon $49.17$45.567.9%
      Toothpaste $3.80$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.15$1.2810.5%
      Movie $10.26$12.1315.4%
      Bowling $17.17$18.004.6%

      Groceries

      Item Morgantown National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.63$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.2%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $5.49$4.9311.3%
      Pizza $11.17$12.097.6%
      Beer $10.15$10.412.5%

      Health Care

      Item Morgantown National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $126.67$125.680.8%
      Doctor $137.65$135.781.4%
      Dentist $100.44$113.2911.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.20$10.654.3%
      Lipitor $375.63$468.6019.8%

      Housing

      Item Morgantown National avg. Difference
      Home Price $215,000.00$184,700.0016.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,880.59$2,346.6919.9%
      Apartment Rent $840.00$949.0011.5%

      Transportation

      Item Morgantown National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.46$3.460.1%
      Tire Balancing $47.54$59.9220.7%

      Utilities

      Item Morgantown National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $178.61$193.997.9%
      Phone $185.45$192.253.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pentress, WV91955.2%
      Bobtown, PA6187624.2%
      Greensboro, PA3877920.5%
      Grant Town, WV4538019.9%
      Granville, WV2,8288317.3%
      Morgantown, WV30,953991.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      San Pablo, CA30,95914242.0%
      Danville, IL30,9698217.6%
      Chambly, QC30,986n/a 
      Centre Wellington, ON30,896n/a 
      Miami Lakes, FL31,02113534.8%
      Morgantown, WV30,953991.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.