City Comparison

Huntsville vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Huntsville

Alabama
91
Below Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,098
Median Income

Morgantown

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

The Verdict

1.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 1.1%, with Morgantown being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Huntsville has equivalent purchasing power to $74,176 in Morgantown.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
79
Huntsville
81
Morgantown
Groceries
96
Huntsville
95
Morgantown
Utilities
91
Huntsville
91
Morgantown
Transportation
98
Huntsville
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
93
Huntsville
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Huntsville has the same purchasing power as $74,176 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $75,833 in Huntsville.

Living in Huntsville vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Huntsville's housing index of 79 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $259,000. The $1,000 difference in home prices means roughly $60 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Huntsville compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Huntsville and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Huntsville 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 91 in Huntsville and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Huntsville vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Huntsville 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 $56,098 in Huntsville and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,646 and $49,667 respectively. Huntsville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Huntsville vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Huntsville, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 5 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 1.1% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Huntsville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,176 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Huntsville's housing index is 79 with median homes at $260,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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