CostIndexUSA

Iowa City, IA vs Morgantown, WV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
WV
Morgantown
93.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Iowa City is slightly cheaper than Morgantown — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Iowa City, you would need $81,600 in Morgantown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing17.7%
Iowa City
84
Morgantown
69.1
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Iowa City
93.7
Morgantown
96.3
🚗 Transportation+7.4%
Iowa City
97.6
Morgantown
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+7.4%
Iowa City
88.3
Morgantown
94.8
Utilities+10.5%
Iowa City
83.7
Morgantown
92.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Morgantown, WV
$81,600
$1,600 more needed in Morgantown

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.0197. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Morgantown, WV

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

Iowa City has 17.7% lower housing costs compared to Morgantown.

Income & Job Market

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

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).

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.