Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Naperville?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Naperville?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Missoula vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,100 in Missoula, MT versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 57% higher in Naperville, IL. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$755

$1,713

+127% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$953

$1,594

+67% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,889

+61% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$2,446

+46% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$509,900

+19% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$150,937

+131% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$54,720

+14% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

40.1 yr

+5.8 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

47.8%

74.3%

+26.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

71.7%

+20.0 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

16.6 min

31.4 min

+14.8 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

85.7

+86% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,685.2

892.2

+76% 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

45.9°F

49.9°F

+4.0°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

36.9 in

+22.8 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Missoula, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

19.9

+31% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$19.71

+95% in Naperville, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / IL)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.95%

+0.7 pp in MT

Missoula vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Naperville?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Naperville?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).