CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Morgantown is moderately cheaper than Houston — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $75,700 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing33.9%
Houston
104.5
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries4.3%
Houston
100.6
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation+4.4%
Houston
100.4
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.4%
Houston
90.8
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities2.9%
Houston
95.3
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$75,700
$4,300 less needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.9462. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Morgantown, WV

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

Houston has 33.9% lower housing costs compared to Morgantown.

Income & Job Market

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

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).

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.