City Comparison

Morgantown vs Naperville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Morgantown

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

Naperville

Illinois
112
Above Average
$430,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$118,254
Median Income

The Verdict

19.6%

Morgantown is 19.6% less expensive than Naperville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Morgantown would need approximately $93,333 in Naperville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Morgantown
130
Naperville
Groceries
95
Morgantown
104
Naperville
Utilities
91
Morgantown
99
Naperville
Transportation
99
Morgantown
116
Naperville
Healthcare
88
Morgantown
101
Naperville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $93,333 in Naperville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $60,268 in Morgantown.

Living in Morgantown vs Naperville

Housing Costs

Morgantown's housing index of 81 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $430,000. The $171,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,112 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $494/month in Naperville. Morgantown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Morgantown and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 101 in Naperville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville 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 $2,759/month in Naperville. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 19.6% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,333 in Naperville, based on the cost of living difference.
Morgantown's housing index is 81 with median homes at $259,000, while Naperville's is 130 with median homes at $430,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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