Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Morgantown?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Morgantown?

Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Laramie vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/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 $890 in Laramie, WY versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Morgantown, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,414 in Laramie, WY and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 19% higher in Laramie, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Laramie, WY

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$667

$836

+25% in Morgantown, WV

1 Bedroom

$728

$770

+6% in Morgantown, WV

2 Bedroom

$883

$969

+10% in Morgantown, WV

3 Bedroom

$1,423

$1,038

+27% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$302,200

$238,200

+21% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,414

$42,245

+19% in Laramie, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,350

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.9 yr

24.0 yr

+2.9 yr in Laramie, WY

Homeownership

44.1%

44.3%

+0.2 pp in Morgantown, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.8%

58.1%

+2.3 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

13.5 min

17.3 min

+3.8 min in Morgantown, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

129.6

216.3

+67% in Morgantown, WV

Property Crime

1,175.9

1,976.4

+68% in Morgantown, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

41.0°F

53.0°F

+12.0°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

10.9 in

41.8 in

+30.9 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Laramie, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

15.4

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$24.68

+35% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Laramie, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / WV)

+2.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.82%

+4.8 pp in WV

Laramie vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Laramie or Morgantown?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Laramie than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Laramie versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Laramie or Morgantown?: Laramie is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% 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).