Alexandria vs Morgantown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Morgantown
The Verdict
Morgantown is 61.1% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $46,552 in Morgantown to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $46,552 in Morgantown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $120,833 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Morgantown
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $259,000. The $331,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $1,175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $451/month in Morgantown. Morgantown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1032/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $49,667 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 120 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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