Lexington vs Morgantown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lexington
Morgantown
The Verdict
Morgantown is 3.3% less expensive than Lexington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lexington would need approximately $72,581 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 Lexington has the same purchasing power as $72,581 in Morgantown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $77,500 in Lexington.
Living in Lexington vs Morgantown
Housing Costs
Lexington's housing index of 82 is higher Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $245,000 vs $259,000. The $14,000 difference in home prices means roughly $912 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Lexington compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $250.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lexington and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lexington 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 Lexington and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Lexington vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 94 in Lexington 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 $55,648 in Lexington and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,837 and $49,667 respectively. Lexington residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,298/month to housing in Lexington vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Lexington, 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 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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