Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

vs
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI and $65,329 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.

Grand Rapids, MI
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$992
$755
+24% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$964
$953
+1% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,176
+2% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,676
+18% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$427,400
+90% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$65,329
+0% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$47,830
+1% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
34.3 yr
+2.2 yr in Missoula, MT
Homeownership
54.6%
47.8%
+6.8 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
51.7%
+11.6 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
19.4 min
16.6 min
+2.8 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
601.9
+34% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
2,506.2
3,685.2
+47% 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
49.1°F
45.9°F
+3.2°F in Grand Rapids, MI
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
14.1 in
+24.1 in in Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$10.12
+49% in Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Grand Rapids, 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)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
5.65%
+1.4 pp in MT

Grand Rapids vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or Missoula?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Rapids than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Grand Rapids versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or Missoula?
Grand Rapids 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).