What is the cost of living in Morgantown, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Morgantown has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Morgantown has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Morgantown ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Morgantown ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Morgantown, check out:
Morgantown Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Morgantown. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Morgantown is 98.
The Groceries index in Morgantown is 93.
The Health index in Morgantown is 107.
The Housing index in Morgantown is 94.
The Transportation index in Morgantown is 93.
The Utilities index in Morgantown is 91.
| Living Expense | Morgantown | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 107 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 93 | 100 |
Morgantown Cost Of Living Compared To West Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around West Virginia, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In West Virginia
- Most Affordable Cities In West Virginia
- Average Rent In West Virginia
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Morgantown, WV Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in West Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Morgantown is $280,205.
The Median Rent in Morgantown is $937.
The Median Income in Morgantown is $44,727.
The Home Value To Income in Morgantown is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Morgantown is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Morgantown | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $280,205 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $937 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $44,727 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Morgantown, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Morgantown Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Morgantown | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.15 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.26 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $29.44 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Morgantown Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Morgantown | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.17 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.15 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Morgantown Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Morgantown | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $126.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.65 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Morgantown Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Morgantown | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $47.54 | $59.92 |
Detailed Morgantown Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Morgantown | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $178.61 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.45 | $192.25 |
Morgantown SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Morgantown
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Morgantown. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
West Mifflin, PA has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Morgantown.
Whitehall, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Morgantown.
Washington, PA has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Morgantown.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Morgantown |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Mifflin, PA | 19,190 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Washington, PA | 13,368 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Jefferson Hills, PA | 12,317 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Cheat Lake, WV | 10,902 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Canonsburg, PA | 9,675 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.0x |
| White Oak, PA | 7,468 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Centerville, SC | 7,049 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Brookhaven, WV | 6,212 | 95 | 1.0x |
