Madison vs Morgantown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Madison
Morgantown
The Verdict
Living in Morgantown costs 17.8% less than Madison. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Madison, you would need $63,679 in Morgantown.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Madison has the same purchasing power as $63,679 in Morgantown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $88,333 in Madison.
Living in Madison vs Morgantown
Housing Costs
Madison's housing index of 115 is higher Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $259,000. The $81,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,268 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Madison compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Madison and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Madison vs $451/month in Morgantown. Morgantown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Madison and 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Madison vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Madison and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $67,565 in Madison and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,741 and $49,667 respectively. Madison residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,577/month to housing in Madison vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/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 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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