Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Missoula?

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Missoula?

Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Detroit vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Detroit

Michigan

$990/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 $990 in Detroit, MI versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Detroit, MI is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,575 in Detroit, MI and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 39% higher in Missoula, MT. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Detroit, MI

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$801

$755

+6% in Detroit, MI

1 Bedroom

$752

$953

+27% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,001

$1,176

+17% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,676

+40% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$76,800

$427,400

+457% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$39,575

$65,329

+65% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,080

$47,830

+8% in Detroit, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

34.3 yr

+0.8 yr in Detroit, MI

Homeownership

49.7%

47.8%

+1.9 pp in Detroit, MI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.6%

51.7%

+34.1 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

25.4 min

16.6 min

+8.8 min in Detroit, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,783.4

601.9

+66% in Detroit, MI

Property Crime

4,391.6

3,685.2

+16% in Detroit, MI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.3°F

45.9°F

+4.4°F in Detroit, MI

Annual Precipitation

31.3 in

14.1 in

+17.2 in in Detroit, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Missoula, MT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.0

15.1

+34% in Detroit, MI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.72

$10.12

+49% in Detroit, MI

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 Detroit, MI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Detroit, MI

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 (MI / MT)

None

+6.0 pp in MI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

5.65%

+1.4 pp in MT

Detroit vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Missoula?: Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Detroit than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Detroit versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Missoula?: Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).