Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 72% higher in Naperville, IL. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$836
$1,713
+105% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,594
+107% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,889
+95% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$2,446
+136% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$509,900
+114% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$150,937
+257% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$54,720
+16% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
40.1 yr
+16.1 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
44.3%
74.3%
+30.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
71.7%
+13.6 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
17.3 min
31.4 min
+14.1 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
85.7
+60% in Morgantown, WV
Property Crime
1,976.4
892.2
+55% 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
53.0°F
49.9°F
+3.1°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
36.9 in
+4.9 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Morgantown, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
19.9
+29% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$19.71
+20% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Naperville, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Morgantown, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Naperville, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.95%
+0.1 pp in IL

Morgantown vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Naperville?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Naperville?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).