City Comparison

Morgantown vs Santa Fe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Morgantown

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

Santa Fe

New Mexico
117
Above Average
$480,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$61,982
Median Income

The Verdict

23.1%

Living in Morgantown costs 23.1% less than Santa Fe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Morgantown, you would need $97,500 in Santa Fe.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Morgantown
153
Santa Fe
Groceries
95
Morgantown
103
Santa Fe
Utilities
91
Morgantown
96
Santa Fe
Transportation
99
Morgantown
99
Santa Fe
Healthcare
88
Morgantown
95
Santa Fe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $97,500 in Santa Fe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $57,692 in Morgantown.

Living in Morgantown vs Santa Fe

Housing Costs

Morgantown's housing index of 81 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $480,000. The $221,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,364 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Morgantown offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Morgantown and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 95 in Santa Fe. 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 $44,700 in Morgantown and $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $52,976 respectively. Santa Fe 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 $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Fe, 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 72 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 23.1% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,500 in Santa Fe, based on the cost of living difference.
Morgantown's housing index is 81 with median homes at $259,000, while Santa Fe's is 153 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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