Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 29% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$836
+20% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$770
+28% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$969
+28% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,038
+33% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$238,200
+9% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$42,245
+29% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$47,350
+20% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
24.0 yr
+12.1 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
44.3%
+3.2 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
58.1%
+22.7 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
29.4 min
17.3 min
+12.1 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
216.3
+87% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,976.4
+53% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
53.0°F
+8.4°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
41.8 in
+0.6 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
15.4
+29% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$24.68
+9% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / WV)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.82%
+1.7 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Morgantown?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).