Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Morgantown?

Juneau 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).

Juneau vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 58% higher in Juneau, 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.

Juneau, AK

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$993

$836

+16% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$770

+39% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$969

+41% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,038

+47% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$238,200

+45% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$42,245

+58% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,350

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

24.0 yr

+15.8 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

44.3%

+20.1 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

58.1%

+17.6 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

15.8 min

17.3 min

+1.5 min in Morgantown, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

216.3

+58% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,113.1

1,976.4

+6% in Juneau, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

42.1°F

53.0°F

+10.9°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

41.8 in

+20.4 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Juneau, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

15.4

+45% in Juneau, 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 Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Juneau, 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

Juneau vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Morgantown?: Juneau 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).