Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Tacoma?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $53,000 in Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Tacoma?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Morgantown vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 50% higher in Tacoma, WA. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$836

$1,178

+41% in Tacoma, WA

1 Bedroom

$770

$1,332

+73% in Tacoma, WA

2 Bedroom

$969

$1,693

+75% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$2,094

+102% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$454,600

+91% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$83,857

+99% in Tacoma, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$72,610

+53% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

37.3 yr

+13.3 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

44.3%

56.5%

+12.2 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

33.5%

+24.6 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

29.0 min

+11.7 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

1,064.4

+392% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

1,976.4

5,695.2

+188% in Tacoma, WA

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

52.1°F

+0.9°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

43.0 in

+1.2 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.26/gal

+34% in Tacoma, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.9

+3% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$21.34

+14% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tacoma, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

None

+4.8 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Tacoma?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Tacoma?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Tacoma?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).