CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
WV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Charleston is moderately cheaper than Morgantown — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $84,200 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+34.4%
Charleston
51.4
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charleston
96.3
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Charleston
104.8
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charleston
94.8
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities+0.9%
Charleston
91.7
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charleston to see what you'd need to earn in Morgantown to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$84,200
$4,200 more needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.0519. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, WV

Median Home Price
$143,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
51.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Morgantown, WV

Median Home Price
$215,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
69.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Morgantown has 34.4% higher housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, WV

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
47,068
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEnergyFinanceEducation

Morgantown, WV

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
31,073
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareEnergyTechnologyGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charleston, WV
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Morgantown, WV
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.