Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 61% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Missoula?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Missoula?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 61% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 48% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$755

+66% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$953

+62% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,176

+61% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,676

+50% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$427,400

+59% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$65,329

+48% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$47,830

+28% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

34.3 yr

+3.8 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

33.7%

47.8%

+14.1 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

51.7%

+28.5 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

16.6 min

+9.5 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

601.9

+38% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

2,657.6

3,685.2

+39% 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

51.5°F

45.9°F

+5.6°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

14.1 in

+29.6 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$4.27/gal

+5% in Missoula, MT

Area: Massachusetts vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.1

+49% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$10.12

+67% in Cambridge, MA

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

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cambridge, MA

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 (MA / MT)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.65%

+3.3 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 61% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Missoula?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).