Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Warwick?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Warwick?

Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Morgantown vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 52% higher in Warwick, RI. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$836

$923

+10% in Warwick, RI

1 Bedroom

$770

$1,085

+41% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$969

$1,629

+68% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,038

$1,569

+51% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$238,200

$322,000

+35% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$42,245

$87,536

+107% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,350

$53,680

+13% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

24.0 yr

44.6 yr

+20.6 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

44.3%

73.4%

+29.1 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.1%

33.2%

+24.9 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

25.0 min

+7.7 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

216.3

79.5

+63% in Morgantown, WV

Property Crime

1,976.4

1,149.5

+42% in Morgantown, WV

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

51.6°F

+1.4°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

41.8 in

47.2 in

+5.4 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.2

+89% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$25.75

+4% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Warwick, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / RI)

+1.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

5.99%

+1.2 pp in RI

Morgantown vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Warwick?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Warwick?: Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).