City Comparison

Morgantown vs Sioux Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Morgantown

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

Sioux Falls

South Dakota
93
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,714
Median Income

The Verdict

3.2%

Morgantown is 3.2% less expensive than Sioux Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Morgantown would need approximately $77,500 in Sioux Falls to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Morgantown
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
95
Morgantown
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
91
Morgantown
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
99
Morgantown
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
88
Morgantown
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $77,500 in Sioux Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $72,581 in Morgantown.

Living in Morgantown vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Morgantown's housing index of 81 is higher Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $265,000. The $6,000 difference in home prices means roughly $396 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $461/month in Sioux Falls. 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 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 101 in Sioux Falls. 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 $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $66,359 respectively. Sioux Falls 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 $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 3.2% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $77,500 in Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Morgantown's housing index is 81 with median homes at $259,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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