City Comparison

Kent vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kent

Washington
137
Expensive
$595,000
Median Home
$1,750/mo
Median Rent
$98,300
Median Income

Morgantown

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

The Verdict

52.2%

Living in Morgantown costs 52.2% less than Kent. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kent, you would need $49,270 in Morgantown.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
195
Kent
81
Morgantown
Groceries
109
Kent
95
Morgantown
Utilities
92
Kent
91
Morgantown
Transportation
117
Kent
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
122
Kent
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kent has the same purchasing power as $49,270 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $114,167 in Kent.

Living in Kent vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Kent's housing index of 195 is higher Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $595,000 vs $259,000. The $336,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,750/mo in Kent compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 109 in Kent and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $518/month in Kent vs $451/month in Morgantown. Morgantown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Kent and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Kent vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 122 in Kent and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 34-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $98,300 in Kent and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,752 and $49,667 respectively. Kent residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,294/month to housing in Kent vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Kent, median rent of $1,750/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 114 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 52.2% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 137.
A $75,000 salary in Kent has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,270 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Kent's housing index is 195 with median homes at $595,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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