City Comparison

Amarillo vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Amarillo

Texas
74
Very Affordable
$195,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$58,500
Median Income

Morgantown

West Virginia
90
Below Average
$259,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$44,700
Median Income

The Verdict

17.8%

Amarillo is 17.8% less expensive than Morgantown overall. A household earning $75,000 in Amarillo would need approximately $91,216 in Morgantown to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
59
Amarillo
81
Morgantown
Groceries
92
Amarillo
95
Morgantown
Utilities
94
Amarillo
91
Morgantown
Transportation
75
Amarillo
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
104
Amarillo
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has the same purchasing power as $91,216 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $61,667 in Amarillo.

Living in Amarillo vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Amarillo's housing index of 59 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $259,000. The $64,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,164 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Amarillo compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Amarillo and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Amarillo vs $451/month in Morgantown. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Amarillo and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Amarillo vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Amarillo and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $58,500 in Amarillo and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,054 and $49,667 respectively. Amarillo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,365/month to housing in Amarillo vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Amarillo, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amarillo is 17.8% more affordable overall with an index of 74 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Amarillo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,216 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Amarillo's housing index is 59 with median homes at $195,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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