Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 13% higher in Missoula, MT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$950
$755
+21% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$953
+19% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,176
+22% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,676
+2% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$427,400
+69% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$65,329
+15% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$47,830
+22% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.3 yr
+2.1 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
47.8%
+4.5 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
51.7%
+28.6 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
29.9 min
16.6 min
+13.3 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
601.9
+50% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,685.2
+149% 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
52.5°F
45.9°F
+6.6°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
14.1 in
+28.6 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
15.1
+38% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$10.12
+57% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Missoula, MT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / MT)
6.35%
None
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
5.65%
+1.3 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Missoula?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Missoula?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).