Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 28% higher in Tulsa, OK. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$836
$786
+6% in Morgantown, WV
1 Bedroom
$770
$847
+10% in Tulsa, OK
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,045
+8% in Tulsa, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,265
+22% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$189,600
+20% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$58,407
+38% in Tulsa, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$46,670
+1% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
35.5 yr
+11.5 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
44.3%
52.0%
+7.7 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
33.3%
+24.8 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.7 min
+1.4 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
948.9
+339% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
1,976.4
3,664.6
+85% in Tulsa, OK

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
60.1°F
+7.1°F in Tulsa, OK
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
43.7 in
+1.9 in in Tulsa, OK

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
14.3
+7% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$31.25
+27% in Tulsa, OK

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 / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
4.50%
+0.3 pp in WV

Morgantown vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Tulsa?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Tulsa, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Tulsa?
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 Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Tulsa?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).