Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 24% higher in Montgomery, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$864
$836
+3% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$831
$770
+7% in Montgomery, AL
2 Bedroom
$982
$969
+1% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,038
+11% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$238,200
+60% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$42,245
+24% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$47,350
+5% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
24.0 yr
+12.2 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
54.3%
44.3%
+10.0 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
58.1%
+24.6 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
20.5 min
17.3 min
+3.2 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
216.3
+64% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
1,976.4
+12% in Montgomery, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.1°F
53.0°F
+12.1°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
41.8 in
+11.2 in in Montgomery, AL

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)
16.4
15.4
+6% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$24.68
+3% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / WV)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.82%
+0.2 pp in AL

Montgomery vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Montgomery, AL's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Morgantown?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).