Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 20% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$755
+55% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$953
+40% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,176
+31% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,676
+8% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$427,400
+2% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$65,329
+20% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,830
+7% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
34.3 yr
+0.3 yr in Missoula, MT
Homeownership
46.3%
47.8%
+1.5 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
51.7%
+6.7 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
16.6 min
+10.2 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
601.9
+0% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,685.2
+4% in Missoula, MT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
45.9°F
+16.7°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
14.1 in
+35.6 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.1
+7% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$10.12
+74% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Missoula, MT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Missoula, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Missoula, MT

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MT)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in GA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
5.65%
+0.5 pp in MT

Atlanta vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Missoula?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Atlanta, GA's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Missoula?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).