Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 42% higher in Omaha, NE. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$836
$908
+9% in Omaha, NE
1 Bedroom
$770
$984
+28% in Omaha, NE
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,193
+23% in Omaha, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,437
+38% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$230,100
+3% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$72,708
+72% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$49,660
+5% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
35.3 yr
+11.3 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
44.3%
57.7%
+13.4 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
40.3%
+17.8 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
19.6 min
+2.3 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
359
+66% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
1,976.4
3,153.5
+60% in Omaha, NE

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
51.1°F
+1.9°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
30.6 in
+11.2 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Metro Transit (Omaha) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
13.3
+14% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$20.10
+19% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Omaha, NE
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Morgantown, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Omaha, NE
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Omaha, NE
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 / NE)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.55%
+0.3 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Omaha?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Omaha?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).