Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Morgantown?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Lincoln, NE versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 40% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$851

$836

+2% in Lincoln, NE

1 Bedroom

$879

$770

+12% in Lincoln, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$969

+9% in Lincoln, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,038

+25% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$238,200

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$42,245

+40% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$47,350

+5% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

24.0 yr

+9.4 yr in Lincoln, NE

Homeownership

55.8%

44.3%

+11.5 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

58.1%

+17.1 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

18.3 min

17.3 min

+1.0 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

216.3

+40% in Lincoln, NE

Property Crime

2,484.4

1,976.4

+20% in Lincoln, NE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

53.0°F

+1.5°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

41.8 in

+11.0 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Morgantown, WV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

15.4

+17% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$24.68

+23% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Lincoln, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Morgantown, WV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Lincoln, NE

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / WV)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

4.82%

+0.3 pp in WV

Lincoln vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Morgantown?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).