Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Santa Fe

New Mexico

$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 Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 40% higher in Santa Fe, NM. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$836
$969
+16% in Santa Fe, NM
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,167
+52% in Santa Fe, NM
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,559
+61% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,733
+67% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$411,500
+73% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$70,110
+66% in Santa Fe, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$48,710
+3% in Santa Fe, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
46.4 yr
+22.4 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
44.3%
62.8%
+18.5 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
45.4%
+12.7 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
20.2 min
+2.9 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
843.3
+290% in Santa Fe, NM
Property Crime
1,976.4
5,189
+163% in Santa Fe, NM

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
51.9°F
+1.1°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
13.5 in
+28.3 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Morgantown, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
15.1
+3% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$9.31
+62% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Santa Fe, NM
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Santa Fe, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Santa Fe, NM
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Santa Fe, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / NM)
6%
4.875%
+1.1 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
5.90%
+1.1 pp in NM

Morgantown vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Santa Fe?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Santa Fe?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).