Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 60% higher in Washington, DC. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$836
$1,763
+111% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,885
+145% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,949
+101% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$2,249
+117% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$724,600
+204% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$106,287
+152% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$71,060
+50% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
34.9 yr
+10.9 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
44.3%
41.1%
+3.2 pp in Morgantown, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
63.6%
+5.5 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
17.3 min
30.3 min
+13.0 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
936.3
+333% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,976.4
3,627.9
+84% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+5.2°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
39.7 in
+2.1 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
24.4
+58% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$27.28
+11% in Washington, DC

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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
10.75%
+5.9 pp in DC

Morgantown vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Washington?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Washington?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).