Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Missoula?

Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Jersey City vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 31% higher in Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Jersey City, NJ

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,949

$755

+61% in Jersey City, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,853

$953

+49% in Jersey City, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,857

$1,176

+37% in Jersey City, NJ

3 Bedroom

$2,004

$1,676

+16% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$534,500

$427,400

+20% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$94,813

$65,329

+31% in Jersey City, NJ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$47,830

+22% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

34.3 yr

+0.4 yr in Jersey City, NJ

Homeownership

28.8%

47.8%

+19.0 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.1%

51.7%

+1.4 pp in Jersey City, NJ

Avg Commute

36.9 min

16.6 min

+20.3 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

562.9

601.9

+7% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

2,036.4

3,685.2

+81% 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

55.0°F

45.9°F

+9.1°F in Jersey City, NJ

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

14.1 in

+35.8 in in Jersey City, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

15.1

+39% in Jersey City, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$10.12

+43% in Jersey City, NJ

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Jersey City, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / MT)

6.625%

None

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

5.65%

+5.1 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jersey City than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Missoula?: Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).