City Comparison

Morgantown vs Nashville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Morgantown

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

Nashville

Tennessee
102
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$59,828
Median Income

The Verdict

11.8%

Living in Morgantown costs 11.8% less than Nashville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Morgantown, you would need $85,000 in Nashville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Morgantown
108
Nashville
Groceries
95
Morgantown
96
Nashville
Utilities
91
Morgantown
92
Nashville
Transportation
99
Morgantown
100
Nashville
Healthcare
88
Morgantown
98
Nashville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $85,000 in Nashville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Nashville equals $66,176 in Morgantown.

Living in Morgantown vs Nashville

Housing Costs

Morgantown's housing index of 81 is lower Nashville's 108, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $380,000. The $121,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,860 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $1,600/mo in Nashville, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 96 in Nashville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $456/month in Nashville. 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 Morgantown and 92 in Nashville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $368 in Nashville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 98 in Nashville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $59,828 in Nashville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $58,655 respectively. Nashville 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 $1,396/month in Nashville. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Nashville, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 11.8% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 102.
A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,000 in Nashville, based on the cost of living difference.
Morgantown's housing index is 81 with median homes at $259,000, while Nashville's is 108 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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