Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Phoenix?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Phoenix?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Morgantown vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$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 Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 45% higher in Phoenix, AZ. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$836

$1,127

+35% in Phoenix, AZ

1 Bedroom

$770

$1,253

+63% in Phoenix, AZ

2 Bedroom

$969

$1,493

+54% in Phoenix, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$1,771

+71% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$381,900

+60% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$77,041

+82% in Phoenix, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$51,380

+9% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

34.8 yr

+10.8 yr in Phoenix, AZ

Homeownership

44.3%

57.1%

+12.8 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

32.3%

+25.8 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

25.7 min

+8.4 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

799.6

+270% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

1,976.4

2,338.9

+18% in Phoenix, AZ

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

75.1°F

+22.1°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

8.2 in

+33.6 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.2

+2% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$24.74

+0% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / AZ)

5.6%

+0.4 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

2.50%

+2.3 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Phoenix?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Phoenix?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).