Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Morgantown?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Morgantown?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Denver vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/mo est.

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 54% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$836

+44% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$770

+51% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$969

+51% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,038

+54% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$238,200

+59% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$42,245

+54% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$47,350

+24% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

24.0 yr

+11.2 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

44.3%

+4.8 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

58.1%

+2.5 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

25.4 min

17.3 min

+8.1 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

216.3

+78% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

1,976.4

+59% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

53.0°F

+2.8°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

41.8 in

+26.3 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.16/gal

$3.94/gal

+5% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

15.4

+10% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$24.68

+64% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Denver, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Denver, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / WV)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

4.82%

+0.4 pp in WV

Denver vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Morgantown?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).