Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Morgantown, WV Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Morgantown, WV

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,912 in Morgantown, WV, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,019 in Morgantown, WV, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,126 in Morgantown, WV, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 86% more than Morgantown, WV, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Morgantown, WV sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Morgantown, WV by 43%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.79 $24.79
$17.65 $17.65
40.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$69.0 $69.0
72.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.15 $14.15
$8.91 $8.91
58.81%
Cappuccino
$5.71 $5.71
$4.26 $4.26
34.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.10 $2.10
39.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.19 $2.19
15.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 $7.89
$3.94 $3.94
100.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.05 $8.05
$4.48 $4.48
79.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$0.84 $0.84
61.90%
White Bread (500g)
$5.07 $5.07
$2.18 $2.18
132.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$4.08 $4.08
28.68%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.25 $3.25
112.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.95 $24.95
$10.54 $10.54
136.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.75 $15.75
$12.83 $12.83
22.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.72 $20.72
$9.31 $9.31
122.56%
Apples (1kg)
$6.19 $6.19
$4.34 $4.34
42.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.34 $1.34
108.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.53 $2.53
118.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.42 $6.42
$2.33 $2.33
175.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.67 $3.67
-13.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.52 $2.52
54.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.83 $1.83
47.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.16 $2.16
17.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.37 $11.37
$9.77 $9.77
16.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.67 $15.67
$14.16 $14.16
10.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.97 $1.97
45.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 $4.26
$2.49 $2.49
71.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.95 $1.95
38.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.8 $98.8
$80.6 $80.6
22.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.96 $2.96
-12.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.39 $1.39
17.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.68 $29.68
$27.39 $27.39
8.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.80 $0.80
42.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$29.5K $29.5K
11.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$25.3K $25.3K
4.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 $264
$268 $268
-1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$59.4 $59.4
3.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5 $75.5
$67.7 $67.7
11.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.0 $78.0
$9.83 $9.83
693.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.28 $40.28
$50.6 $50.6
-20.41%
Cinema Ticket
$16.11 $16.11
$12.14 $12.14
32.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,212 $2,212
$610 $610
262.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.0K $29.0K
$15.5K $15.5K
87.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3 $69.3
$54.6 $54.6
27.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8 $53.8
$24.94 $24.94
115.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$70.5 $70.5
68.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$70.2 $70.2
101.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,357 $2,357
$832 $832
183.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,834 $1,834
$717 $717
155.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,686 $4,686
$1,681 $1,681
178.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,571 $3,571
$1,495 $1,495
138.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,539 $7,539
$1,875 $1,875
301.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,046 $5,046
$1,753 $1,753
187.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Morgantown, WV
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,200 $4,200
54.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.36
0.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Morgantown, WV: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $832 in Morgantown, WV. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $69.0 in Morgantown, WV. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $327 – making Morgantown, WV the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Seattle, WA vs Morgantown, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seattle, WA or Morgantown, WV?
Seattle, WA costs about 86% more than Morgantown, WV, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Seattle, WA and in Morgantown, WV?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,869 in Morgantown, WV. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seattle, WA or Morgantown, WV?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Morgantown, WV, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Seattle, WA compared to Morgantown, WV?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $1,912 in Morgantown, WV. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Seattle, WA compared to Morgantown, WV?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Morgantown, WV. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seattle, WA or in Morgantown, WV?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Morgantown, WV, where all-in costs run around $1,912, than in Seattle, WA at $3,565. In Morgantown, WV it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Seattle, WA or Morgantown, WV?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Morgantown, WV costs $1,912 versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Seattle, WA or to Morgantown, WV?
If budget matters most, go with Morgantown, WV. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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