Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 4% higher in Missoula, MT. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$933
$755
+19% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$953
+1% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,176
+4% in Missoula, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,676
+29% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$427,400
+106% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$65,329
+4% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$47,830
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.3 yr
+0.2 yr in Missoula, MT
Homeownership
55.3%
47.8%
+7.5 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
51.7%
+17.5 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
24.3 min
16.6 min
+7.7 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
601.9
+36% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
3,685.2
+10% 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
53.2°F
45.9°F
+7.3°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
14.1 in
+28.3 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in Missoula, MT

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.1
+14% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$10.12
+59% in Indianapolis, IN

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 Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
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 (IN / MT)
7%
None
+7.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
5.65%
+2.7 pp in MT

Indianapolis vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Missoula?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Missoula?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).