Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Missoula?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Memphis vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 22% higher in Missoula, MT. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$877

$755

+14% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$948

$953

+1% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,176

+10% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,676

+31% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$427,400

+172% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$65,329

+28% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$47,830

+2% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

about equal

Homeownership

46.0%

47.8%

+1.8 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

51.7%

+23.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

21.3 min

16.6 min

+4.7 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

601.9

+76% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

3,685.2

+47% in Memphis, TN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

63.1°F

45.9°F

+17.2°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

14.1 in

+39.5 in in Memphis, TN

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 — MATA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.1

+8% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.75

$10.12

+49% in Memphis, TN

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 Memphis, TN

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 (TN / MT)

None

+7.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.65%

+5.7 pp in MT

Memphis vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Missoula?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax 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).