Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Morgantown?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 41% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$883

$836

+5% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$770

+28% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$969

+32% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,038

+49% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$238,200

+7% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$42,245

+41% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$47,350

+23% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

24.0 yr

+4.6 yr in Fairbanks, AK

Homeownership

40.5%

44.3%

+3.8 pp in Morgantown, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

58.1%

+31.6 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

14.1 min

17.3 min

+3.2 min in Morgantown, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

216.3

+70% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

1,976.4

+44% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

27.7°F

53.0°F

+25.3°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

41.8 in

+31.0 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

15.4

+45% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$24.68

+42% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WV)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.82%

+4.8 pp in WV

Fairbanks vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Morgantown?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).