Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Missoula?

Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Minneapolis vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 19% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Minneapolis, MN

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$992

$755

+24% in Minneapolis, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,192

$953

+20% in Minneapolis, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,176

+24% in Minneapolis, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,761

$1,676

+5% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$345,600

$427,400

+24% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$80,269

$65,329

+19% in Minneapolis, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,320

$47,830

+19% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

34.3 yr

+1.3 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

48.0%

47.8%

+0.2 pp in Minneapolis, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.5%

51.7%

+2.8 pp in Minneapolis, MN

Avg Commute

22.5 min

16.6 min

+5.9 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,168.5

601.9

+48% in Minneapolis, MN

Property Crime

5,183.1

3,685.2

+29% in Minneapolis, MN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

47.4°F

45.9°F

+1.5°F in Minneapolis, MN

Annual Precipitation

32.8 in

14.1 in

+18.7 in in Minneapolis, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: Minnesota vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.5

15.1

+14% in Minneapolis, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.79

$10.12

+32% in Minneapolis, MN

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 Minneapolis, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Minneapolis, MN

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 (MN / MT)

6.875%

None

+6.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

9.85%

5.65%

+4.2 pp in MN

Minneapolis vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Minneapolis than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Minneapolis versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Minneapolis or Missoula?: Minneapolis is taxed under Minnesota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).