Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Bellevue, NE versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 52% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$836
+24% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$770
+24% in Bellevue, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$969
+19% in Bellevue, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,038
+37% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$238,200
+3% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$42,245
+52% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$47,350
+5% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
24.0 yr
+12.1 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
65.5%
44.3%
+21.2 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
58.1%
+24.7 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
20.8 min
17.3 min
+3.5 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
216.3
+115% in Morgantown, WV
Property Crime
1,149.4
1,976.4
+72% 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
51.1°F
53.0°F
+1.9°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
41.8 in
+11.2 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Morgantown, WV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.3
15.4
+17% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.10
$24.68
+23% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Bellevue, NE
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Morgantown, WV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Bellevue, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Bellevue, NE
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Bellevue, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / WV)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
4.82%
+0.3 pp in WV

Bellevue vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Morgantown?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).