Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Morgantown, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 7% higher in Morgantown, WV. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$678
$836
+23% in Morgantown, WV
1 Bedroom
$732
$770
+5% in Morgantown, WV
2 Bedroom
$903
$969
+7% in Morgantown, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,038
+4% in Cleveland, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$238,200
+153% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$42,245
+8% in Morgantown, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$47,350
+6% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
24.0 yr
+12.3 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
44.3%
+3.1 pp in Morgantown, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
58.1%
+36.8 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
22.9 min
17.3 min
+5.6 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
216.3
+86% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
1,976.4
+56% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
53.0°F
+0.3°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
41.8 in
+5.5 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in Morgantown, WV

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
15.4
+19% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$24.68
+8% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cleveland, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Morgantown, WV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cleveland, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cleveland, OH
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 (OH / WV)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.82%
+2.1 pp in WV

Cleveland vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Morgantown?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Morgantown?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).