CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
WV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Columbia is slightly cheaper than Morgantown — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $83,500 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Columbia
69.2
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries+2.2%
Columbia
94.2
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation+7.3%
Columbia
97.7
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+7.2%
Columbia
88.4
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities+7.6%
Columbia
86
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0436. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Morgantown, WV

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

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.