City Comparison

Little Rock vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Little Rock

Arkansas
84
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$47,638
Median Income

Morgantown

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

The Verdict

6.7%

Living in Little Rock costs 6.7% less than Morgantown. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Little Rock, you would need $80,357 in Morgantown.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Little Rock
81
Morgantown
Groceries
94
Little Rock
95
Morgantown
Utilities
88
Little Rock
91
Morgantown
Transportation
98
Little Rock
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
90
Little Rock
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has the same purchasing power as $80,357 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $70,000 in Little Rock.

Living in Little Rock vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Little Rock's housing index of 62 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $259,000. The $89,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,784 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Little Rock compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Little Rock and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Little Rock 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 88 in Little Rock and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Little Rock vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Little Rock 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 $47,638 in Little Rock and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,712 and $49,667 respectively. Little Rock residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,112/month to housing in Little Rock vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/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

Little Rock is 6.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,357 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Little Rock's housing index is 62 with median homes at $170,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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