Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Missoula?

Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Missoula?

Columbus 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).

Columbus vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Georgia

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Columbus, GA versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 13% higher in Missoula, MT. 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.

Columbus, GA

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$826

$755

+9% in Columbus, GA

1 Bedroom

$875

$953

+9% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,176

+19% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,221

$1,676

+37% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$182,300

$427,400

+134% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$56,622

$65,329

+15% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,540

$47,830

+10% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

34.3 yr

+0.8 yr in Columbus, GA

Homeownership

50.2%

47.8%

+2.4 pp in Columbus, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.7%

51.7%

+22.0 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

20.2 min

16.6 min

+3.6 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

612.3

601.9

+2% in Columbus, GA

Property Crime

2,273.4

3,685.2

+62% 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

65.7°F

45.9°F

+19.8°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

46.8 in

14.1 in

+32.6 in in Columbus, GA

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)

16.4

15.1

+7% in Columbus, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$38.60

$10.12

+74% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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)

None

+4.0 pp in GA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

5.65%

+0.5 pp in MT

Columbus vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Missoula?: Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Missoula?: Columbus 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).