City Comparison

Morgantown vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Morgantown

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

St. Paul

Minnesota
100
Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$57,718
Median Income

The Verdict

10.0%

Living in Morgantown costs 10.0% less than St. Paul. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Morgantown, you would need $83,333 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Morgantown
98
St. Paul
Groceries
95
Morgantown
103
St. Paul
Utilities
91
Morgantown
97
St. Paul
Transportation
99
Morgantown
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
88
Morgantown
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $67,500 in Morgantown.

Living in Morgantown vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Morgantown's housing index of 81 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $259,000 vs $260,000. The $1,000 difference in home prices means roughly $60 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Morgantown compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Morgantown and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Morgantown vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Morgantown vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Morgantown and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,667 and $57,718 respectively. St. Paul 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgantown is 10.0% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Morgantown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,333 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Morgantown's housing index is 81 with median homes at $259,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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