Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 53% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$836
+57% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$770
+56% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$969
+55% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,038
+61% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$238,200
+69% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$42,245
+53% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$47,350
+15% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
24.0 yr
+11.9 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
44.3%
+1.6 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
58.1%
+29.3 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
28.2 min
17.3 min
+10.9 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
216.3
+64% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
1,976.4
+12% in Anaheim, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
53.0°F
+14.1°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
41.8 in
+28.4 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
15.4
+56% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$24.68
+21% in Morgantown, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / WV)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.82%
+8.5 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Morgantown?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).