Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, 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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Missoula?

Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $65,329 in Missoula, MT. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Columbus, OH

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,014

$755

+26% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$1,059

$953

+10% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,276

$1,176

+8% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,369

$1,676

+22% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$234,500

$427,400

+82% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,327

$65,329

+0% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

$47,830

+7% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

34.3 yr

+1.3 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

44.3%

47.8%

+3.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

51.7%

+13.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

21.8 min

16.6 min

+5.2 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.2

601.9

+24% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,093.9

3,685.2

+19% 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

52.7°F

45.9°F

+6.8°F in Columbus, OH

Annual Precipitation

40.1 in

14.1 in

+26.0 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$4.27/gal

+12% in Missoula, MT

Area: Ohio vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

15.1

+21% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$10.12

+56% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MT)

5.75%

None

+5.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

5.65%

+2.9 pp in MT

Columbus vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, 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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Missoula?: Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).