Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 42% higher in St. Paul, MN. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$836
$995
+19% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,126
+46% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,384
+43% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,662
+60% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$280,300
+18% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$73,055
+73% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$59,320
+25% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
33.5 yr
+9.5 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
44.3%
53.2%
+8.9 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
43.5%
+14.6 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
22.3 min
+5.0 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
619
+186% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,976.4
2,897.2
+47% in St. Paul, MN

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
47.1°F
+5.9°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
28.5 in
+13.3 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.96/gal
+0% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
17.5
+13% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$14.79
+40% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Paul, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Morgantown, WV
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Paul, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Paul, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Paul, MN
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 / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
9.85%
+5.0 pp in MN

Morgantown vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or St. Paul?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or St. Paul?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).