Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Reno?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Reno?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Morgantown vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 46% higher in Reno, NV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$836

$964

+15% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$770

$1,206

+57% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$969

$1,518

+57% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$1,885

+82% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$498,600

+109% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$78,448

+86% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$49,660

+5% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

37.3 yr

+13.3 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

44.3%

49.4%

+5.1 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

35.7%

+22.4 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

20.6 min

+3.3 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

528.9

+145% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

1,976.4

2,489.3

+26% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+0.8°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

7.4 in

+34.4 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

13.1

+15% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$13.83

+44% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

None

+4.8 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Reno?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Reno?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).