City Comparison · 2026
Morgantown vs Chicago
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Morgantown = $152k in Chicago
Metric
Morgantown
Chicago
COL Index
✓0.91
1.38
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,050/mo
$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,320/mo
$2,600/mo
State Income Tax
WV
IL
$100k Take-Home
$73,361
✓$73,786
$100k Effective Rate
26.64%
✓26.21%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$60,761
$49,786
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Morgantown WV | Chicago IL |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,473 $3,956/mo · 20.88% eff. | $47,278 $3,940/mo · 21.2% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,361 $6,113/mo · 26.64% eff. | $73,786 $6,149/mo · 26.21% eff. |
| $150,000 | $104,653 $8,721/mo · 30.23% eff. | $105,853 $8,821/mo · 29.43% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morgantown or Chicago cheaper to live in?
Morgantown has a cost-of-living index of 0.91 while Chicago is 1.38 (1.00 = US average). Morgantown is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Morgantown is $1,050/month vs $2,000/month in Chicago.
How much more do you need to earn in Chicago vs Morgantown?
$100k in Morgantown = $152k in Chicago. Cost of living in Chicago is higher by 51.6%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Morgantown or Chicago?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,361 in WV (Morgantown) and $73,786 in IL (Chicago). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $60,761 in Morgantown vs $49,786 in Chicago.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideMorgantown vs New York City cost of livingMorgantown vs Los Angeles cost of livingMorgantown vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in MorgantownCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in MorgantownRegistered Nurse salary in MorgantownWhere does $100k rank nationally?