Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Morgantown?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax 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).

Memphis vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 18% higher in Memphis, TN. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$877

$836

+5% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$948

$770

+19% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$969

+10% in Memphis, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,038

+19% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$238,200

+52% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$42,245

+18% in Memphis, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$47,350

+1% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

24.0 yr

+10.3 yr in Memphis, TN

Homeownership

46.0%

44.3%

+1.7 pp in Memphis, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

58.1%

+29.9 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

21.3 min

17.3 min

+4.0 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

216.3

+91% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

1,976.4

+72% in Memphis, TN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

63.1°F

53.0°F

+10.1°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

41.8 in

+11.9 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Morgantown, WV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — MATA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.4

+10% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.75

$24.68

+25% in Morgantown, WV

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 (TN / WV)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.82%

+4.8 pp in WV

Memphis vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Morgantown?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax 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).