CostIndexUSA

Madison, WI vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Morgantown is slightly cheaper than Madison — 4.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Madison, you would need $76,700 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing30.7%
Madison
99.7
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Madison
93.8
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Madison
104.4
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Madison
94.4
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities+3.0%
Madison
89.8
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$76,700
$3,300 less needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9589. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Madison, WI

Median Home Price
$429,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
99.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Morgantown, WV

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

Madison has 30.7% lower housing costs compared to Morgantown.

Income & Job Market

Madison, WI

Median Household Income
$82,100
Per Capita Income
$46,800
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Population
269,186
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Madison, WI
4.2×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.