Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Missoula?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Columbia vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 15% higher in Missoula, MT. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$802

$755

+6% in Columbia, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$953

+7% in Columbia, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,176

+1% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,676

+25% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$427,400

+76% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$65,329

+17% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$47,830

+3% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

34.3 yr

+5.6 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

47.3%

47.8%

+0.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

51.7%

+5.6 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

17.4 min

16.6 min

+0.8 min in Columbia, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

601.9

+22% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

3,685.2

+13% 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

64.9°F

45.9°F

+19.0°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

14.1 in

+31.3 in in Columbia, SC

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)

15.6

15.1

+3% in Columbia, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$10.12

+65% in Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC

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 (SC / MT)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

5.65%

+0.3 pp in SC

Columbia vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Missoula?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).