Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baton Rouge, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 15% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$881
$836
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$770
+10% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$969
+10% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,038
+16% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$238,200
+6% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$42,245
+15% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$47,350
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
24.0 yr
+7.8 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
44.3%
+2.6 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
58.1%
+22.3 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
21.1 min
17.3 min
+3.8 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
216.3
+29% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,976.4
+13% in Morgantown, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
53.0°F
+15.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
41.8 in
+18.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Morgantown, WV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
15.4
+15% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$24.68
+48% 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 (LA / WV)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.82%
+1.8 pp in WV

Baton Rouge vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Morgantown?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).