City Comparison

Augusta vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Augusta

Georgia
80
Very Affordable
$225,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$55,500
Median Income

Morgantown

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

The Verdict

11.1%

Augusta is 11.1% less expensive than Morgantown overall. A household earning $75,000 in Augusta would need approximately $84,375 in Morgantown to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Augusta
81
Morgantown
Groceries
96
Augusta
95
Morgantown
Utilities
104
Augusta
91
Morgantown
Transportation
89
Augusta
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
81
Augusta
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Augusta has the same purchasing power as $84,375 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $66,667 in Augusta.

Living in Augusta vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Augusta's housing index of 62 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $225,000 vs $259,000. The $34,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,208 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Augusta compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Augusta and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Augusta 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 104 in Augusta and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $416 in Augusta vs $364 in Morgantown. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 81 in Augusta and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,500 in Augusta and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,375 and $49,667 respectively. Augusta residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,295/month to housing in Augusta vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Augusta, median rent of $1,075/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 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta is 11.1% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Augusta has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,375 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Augusta's housing index is 62 with median homes at $225,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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