Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Missoula?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Missoula?

Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Green Bay vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$930/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 $930 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 4% higher in Missoula, MT. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$707

$755

+7% in Missoula, MT

1 Bedroom

$730

$953

+31% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$956

$1,176

+23% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,287

$1,676

+30% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$191,500

$427,400

+123% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,546

$65,329

+4% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,940

$47,830

+4% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

34.3 yr

+1.4 yr in Green Bay, WI

Homeownership

55.9%

47.8%

+8.1 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.5%

51.7%

+26.2 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

18.9 min

16.6 min

+2.3 min in Green Bay, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

501.7

601.9

+20% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

1,331.2

3,685.2

+177% 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

44.3°F

45.9°F

+1.6°F in Missoula, MT

Annual Precipitation

29.5 in

14.1 in

+15.4 in in Green Bay, WI

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)

19.6

15.1

+23% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$10.12

+44% in Green Bay, WI

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 Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Green Bay, WI

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 (WI / MT)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

5.65%

+2.0 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Missoula?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Missoula?: Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).