Morgantown vs Nampa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Morgantown
Nampa
The Verdict
Morgantown is 14.3% less expensive than Nampa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Morgantown would need approximately $87,500 in Nampa 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 Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $87,500 in Nampa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Nampa equals $64,286 in Morgantown.
Living in Morgantown vs Nampa
Housing Costs
Morgantown's housing index of 81 is lower Nampa's 104, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $371,000. The $112,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,284 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $1,500/mo in Nampa, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 105 in Nampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $499/month in Nampa. Morgantown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Morgantown and 83 in Nampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $332 in Nampa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 102 in Nampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $44,700 in Morgantown and $74,300 in Nampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $70,762 respectively. Nampa residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,043/month to housing in Morgantown vs $1,734/month in Nampa. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Nampa, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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