Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Topeka?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Topeka?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Morgantown vs Topeka Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Morgantown, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 24% higher in Topeka, KS. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio

$836

$702

+16% in Morgantown, WV

1 Bedroom

$770

$758

+2% in Morgantown, WV

2 Bedroom

$969

$977

+1% in Topeka, KS

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$1,177

+13% in Topeka, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$130,600

+45% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$55,902

+32% in Topeka, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$49,540

+5% in Topeka, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

38.2 yr

+14.2 yr in Topeka, KS

Homeownership

44.3%

59.2%

+14.9 pp in Topeka, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

29.1%

+29.0 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

16.7 min

+0.6 min in Morgantown, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

856.5

+296% in Topeka, KS

Property Crime

1,976.4

3,660.2

+85% in Topeka, KS

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

55.1°F

+2.1°F in Topeka, KS

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

36.5 in

+5.4 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Morgantown, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.7

+2% in Topeka, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$25.12

+2% in Topeka, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Topeka, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Morgantown, WV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Topeka, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Topeka, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

5.58%

+0.8 pp in KS

Morgantown vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Topeka?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Topeka?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Topeka?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).