Average. That is what Morgantowns cost of living was during the second quarter of 2006, according to survey results compiled by the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research and published in the latest Morgantown MSA Economic Monitor.

Morgantown came in with a cost of living index of 99.7. Relative to the U.S. city average of 100, Morgantown ranked as the 99th most expensive city, out of the 331 cities (including four in West Virginia) who participated,said Amy Higginbotham, economist in the College of Business and Economics.

Among major U.S. cities, Morgantowns cost of living index is low especially compared to other north-eastern cities.In fact, New York (Manhattan), which was found to be the most expensive city, has a cost of living more than double Morgantowns,commented Higginbotham.

When looking at other college towns in the Eastern U.S., Morgantown falls in the middle with fellow Big East towns of Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburgh with total indexes slightly below Morgantown. However, out of the four West Virginia cities in the survey, Morgantown was the most expensive. Martinsburg was a close second with a total index of 97.7.

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index for all 331 cities was based on six components: grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care expenses and miscellaneous goods/services. Morgantowns average cost of living index was balanced by higher-than-average utility and health care costs and lower-than-average costs for miscellaneous goods/services. Morgantowns utility costs were 11.5 percent more expensive than the average.

Health care costs for Morgantown were 7.2 percent above the average and above the costs found in the other West Virginia cities. The costs of miscellaneous goods/services were 4.5 percent lower than average ranking it the 96th least expensive city. Grocery, housing, and transportation costs in the second quarter were found to be around the average for Morgantown. Grocery items in Morgantown, which included prices for 26 items found in six local grocery stores, was only slightly above the average but was the highest in the state. The cost of housing for Morgantown was 95th most expensive of the participating cities and the highest out of West Virginia but was still 1.6 percent below the U.S. average. Costs incurred in Morgantown for regular gasoline and auto maintenance was also found to be at the average with a transportation index of 101.5.

The Morgantown MSA Monitor is a quarterly publication of the BBER with underwriting support provided in part by Clear Mountain Bank. Copies of the publication can be found at and . Information about the ACCRA Cost of Living Report can be found at