Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Morgantown?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

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

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 2% higher in Jackson, MS. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$836

+23% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$770

+6% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$991

$969

+2% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,038

+7% in Jackson, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$238,200

+120% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$42,245

+2% in Jackson, MS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$47,350

+11% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

24.0 yr

+10.7 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

44.3%

+4.3 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

58.1%

+29.5 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

20.2 min

17.3 min

+2.9 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

216.3

Property Crime

—

1,976.4

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.3°F

53.0°F

+12.3°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

41.8 in

+12.5 in in Jackson, MS

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)

14.9

15.4

+4% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$24.68

+15% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / WV)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.82%

+0.8 pp in WV

Jackson vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Morgantown?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).