Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Missoula?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Missoula?

Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Milwaukee vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 21% higher in Missoula, MT. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$841

$755

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$849

$953

+12% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,176

+14% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,676

+40% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$172,000

$427,400

+148% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$51,888

$65,329

+26% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,160

$47,830

+7% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.2 yr

34.3 yr

+2.1 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

41.5%

47.8%

+6.3 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.6%

51.7%

+25.1 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

22.4 min

16.6 min

+5.8 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,452.3

601.9

+59% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,772.2

3,685.2

+33% 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

47.9°F

45.9°F

+2.0°F in Milwaukee, WI

Annual Precipitation

34.8 in

14.1 in

+20.6 in in Milwaukee, WI

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)

$2.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.6

15.1

+23% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$10.12

+44% in Milwaukee, WI

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 Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

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 (WI / MT)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

5.65%

+2.0 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Missoula?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Missoula?: Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).