City Comparison

Morgantown vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Morgantown

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

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

15.4%

Living in Springfield costs 15.4% less than Morgantown. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Morgantown, you would need $65,000 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Morgantown
52
Springfield
Groceries
95
Morgantown
98
Springfield
Utilities
91
Morgantown
98
Springfield
Transportation
99
Morgantown
114
Springfield
Healthcare
88
Morgantown
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $65,000 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $86,538 in Morgantown.

Living in Morgantown vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Morgantown's housing index of 81 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $162,000. The $97,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,300 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $466/month in Springfield. 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 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 91 in Springfield. 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 $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield 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 $1,528/month in Springfield. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 15.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $65,000 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Morgantown's housing index is 81 with median homes at $259,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases