Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 8% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$815
$755
+7% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$900
$953
+6% in Missoula, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,176
+9% in Missoula, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,676
+34% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$427,400
+62% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$65,329
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$47,830
+8% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.3 yr
+2.1 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
47.8%
+10.3 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
51.7%
+5.5 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
19.3 min
16.6 min
+2.7 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
601.9
+25% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
2,395.7
3,685.2
+54% 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
62.1°F
45.9°F
+16.2°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
14.1 in
+40.2 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Missoula, MT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.1
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$10.12
+58% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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 (AL / MT)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.65%
+0.7 pp in MT

Huntsville vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Missoula?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Missoula?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).