Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Salem?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Salem?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Morgantown vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 41% higher in Salem, OR. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$836

$1,075

+29% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$770

$989

+28% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$969

$1,337

+38% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$1,778

+71% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$382,400

+61% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$71,900

+70% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$55,310

+17% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

35.7 yr

+11.7 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

44.3%

55.7%

+11.4 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

31.4%

+26.7 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

22.4 min

+5.1 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

540.6

+150% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

1,976.4

2,878.6

+46% in Salem, OR

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

about equal

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

39.7 in

+2.2 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

16.3

+6% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$21.60

+12% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

9.90%

+5.1 pp in OR

Morgantown vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Salem?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Salem?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).