Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Shreveport, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 13% higher in Shreveport, LA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$836
$756
+10% in Morgantown, WV
1 Bedroom
$770
$843
+9% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$969
$978
+1% in Shreveport, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,136
+9% in Shreveport, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$178,100
+25% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$48,465
+15% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$44,820
+5% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
37.5 yr
+13.5 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
44.3%
53.8%
+9.5 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
27.5%
+30.6 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
19.0 min
+1.7 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
1,235.4
+471% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
1,976.4
4,048.2
+105% in Shreveport, LA

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
65.5°F
+12.5°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
51.0 in
+9.1 in in Shreveport, LA

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
13.5
+13% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$16.62
+33% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.00%
+1.8 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Shreveport?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Shreveport, LA's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Shreveport?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).