Is Missoula expensive to live in?

Missoula is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $953 per month ranks #100 of 158 and is 9% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Missoula?

Average rent in Missoula, MT runs a studio around $755, a one-bedroom around $953, a two-bedroom around $1,176, a three-bedroom around $1,676 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Missoula?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $953 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year. The median household income here is $65,329.

How much does it cost to live in Missoula per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Missoula is about $1,100 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Missoula, MT

Population 75,600 · Montana

~$1,100/mo est.1BR $953Home $427,400

Compare with:

The cost of living in Missoula, MT is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $953 a month — 9% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $755 and two-bedrooms $1,176.

Median household income here is $65,329, about the same as the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,100 before food and transport. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Rent1BR $953

Studio

$755

1 Bedroom

$953

2 Bedroom

$1,176

3 Bedroom

$1,676

Buying a Home$427,400

Median Home Value

$427,400

Income$65,329

Median Household Income

$65,329

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.82

Bread (lb)

$2.04

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities15.1¢/kWh

Electricity

15.1¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$10.12/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.27/gal

Regular Gasoline (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4))

$4.27/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (MT)No sales tax

State Sales Tax

None

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 5.65%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime601.9 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

601.9

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,685.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Missoula Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 34.3 yrs

Median Age

34.3 yrs

Homeownership

47.8%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

Avg Commute

16.6 min

Climate45.9°F

Avg Annual Temperature

45.9°F

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

Missoula cost of living — FAQ

Is Missoula expensive to live in?: Missoula is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $953 per month ranks #100 of 158 and is 9% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Missoula?: Average rent in Missoula, MT runs a studio around $755, a one-bedroom around $953, a two-bedroom around $1,176, a three-bedroom around $1,676 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Missoula?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $953 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year. The median household income here is $65,329.
How much does it cost to live in Missoula per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Missoula is about $1,100 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Missoula with nearby cities

Missoula vs Bozeman Missoula vs Spokane Missoula vs Boise Missoula vs Meridian Missoula vs Idaho Falls Missoula vs Billings

Nearby cities

Bozeman, MT 163 mi Spokane, WA 170 mi Boise, ID 249 mi Meridian, ID 254 mi Idaho Falls, ID 254 mi Billings, MT 273 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.