Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Missoula?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Houston vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 4% higher in Missoula, MT. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$755

+34% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$953

+18% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,176

+14% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,676

+1% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$427,400

+69% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$65,329

+4% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$47,830

+3% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

about equal

Homeownership

42.0%

47.8%

+5.8 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

51.7%

+15.7 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

27.3 min

16.6 min

+10.7 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

601.9

+48% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

3,685.2

+15% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.3°F

45.9°F

+24.4°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

14.1 in

+40.5 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$4.27/gal

+21% in Missoula, MT

Area: Houston vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.1

+5% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$10.12

+68% in Houston, TX

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 Houston, TX

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 (TX / MT)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.65%

+5.7 pp in MT

Houston vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Missoula?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).