Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 15% higher in Missoula, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$755
$953
+26% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,019
+7% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,287
+9% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,392
+17% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$296,400
+31% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$55,339
+15% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$47,290
+1% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.4 yr
+4.1 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
47.8%
50.5%
+2.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
42.0%
+9.7 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
22.7 min
+6.1 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
1,361.1
+126% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,685.2
5,089.6
+38% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+24.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
62.3 in
+48.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Missoula, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
13.5
+11% in Missoula, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$16.62
+64% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Missoula, MT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Missoula, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / LA)
None
5%
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
3.00%
+2.7 pp in MT

Missoula vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or New Orleans?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or New Orleans?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).