CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableWV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Morgantown is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 9.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $72,300 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing38.8%
Bellingham
112.9
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries8.3%
Bellingham
105
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bellingham
104.4
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bellingham
94.5
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities7.4%
Bellingham
99.9
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bellingham to see what you'd need to earn in Morgantown to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$72,300
$7,700 less needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9032. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Morgantown, WV

Median Home Price
$215,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
69.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Bellingham has 38.8% lower housing costs compared to Morgantown.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Morgantown, WV

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
31,073
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareEnergyTechnologyGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Morgantown, WV
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.