| Index | Missoula | Montana | National |
| Cost of living | 114 | 102 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Housing | 143 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 101 | 102 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Missoula is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Missoula is 114, which is 14% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Missoula, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 42.6% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 37 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Missoula. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 30% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 70% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Missoula an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Missoula is 62.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 4.2% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Missoula has a median household income of $76,536, which is 5.9% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Missoula comes in at 1.6% higher than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Missoula, the housing index comes in at 42.6% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Missoula, the standard sales tax rate starts at 0%, and the income tax rates commence at 1%.
The cost of living data for Missoula shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $118,707 | $9,892 | $2,770 | $3,562 |
| Renters | $51,405 | $4,284 | $1,199 | $1,542 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Montana | 0% | 0% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Montana | 1% | 6.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bonner-West Riverside, MT | 1,451 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Clinton, MT | 675 | 106 | 5.7% |
| East Missoula, MT | 2,263 | 106 | 6.1% |
| Lolo, MT | 4,149 | 110 | 10.0% |
| Evaro, MT | 409 | 114 | 13.8% |
| Missoula, MT | 77,349 | 114 | 13.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| St. Joseph, MO | 77,382 | 88 | 11.9% |
| Buckeye, AZ | 77,435 | 113 | 12.9% |
| Bethlehem, PA | 77,503 | 99 | 0.6% |
| Gary, IN | 77,151 | 81 | 19.3% |
| Centreville, VA | 77,124 | 142 | 41.7% |
| Missoula, MT | 77,349 | 114 | 13.8% |
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