In What Ways Is Monopolistic Competition Different from Perfect Competition

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The Answer is In monopolistic competition, products are differentiated, while in perfect competition, products are homogeneous (identical). Product differentiation creates some monopoly power so that with monopolistic competition, marginal revenue is less than price while in perfect competition they are equal. If price and marginal revenue are not the same, then price and marginal cost will not be equal in long-run equilibrium in monopolistic competition as they are in perfect competition. Likewise, output will not be produced at minimum average total cost in monopolistic competition, though it will be so in perfect competition. Product differentiation also provides incentives and opportunities for a variety of forms of non-price competition, such as advertising, packaging, promotions, and product differentiation itself. In perfect competition, all firms take price and the nature of the product as a given.
Both perfect and monopolistic competition have easy entry conditions, and consequently, both perfect and monopolistic competition result in firms making zero economic profits in long-run equilibrium. The existence of so many firms in both pure competition and monopolistic competition results in independent behavior by all firms.

In What Ways Is Monopolistic Competition Different from Perfect Competition

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