Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 30% higher in Philadelphia, PA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$836
$1,126
+35% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,189
+54% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,394
+44% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,406
+35% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$232,400
+2% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$60,698
+44% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$54,310
+15% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
35.1 yr
+11.1 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
44.3%
52.3%
+8.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
34.6%
+23.5 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
32.0 min
+14.7 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
917.1
+324% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,976.4
4,615.3
+134% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+4.1°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
48.5 in
+6.7 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
21.7
+41% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$26.08
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.07%
+1.8 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Philadelphia?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Philadelphia?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).