Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Omaha?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Omaha?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Missoula vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 10% higher in Omaha, NE. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$755

$908

+20% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$953

$984

+3% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,193

+1% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$1,437

+14% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$230,100

+46% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$72,708

+11% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$49,660

+4% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

35.3 yr

+1.0 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

47.8%

57.7%

+9.9 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

40.3%

+11.4 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

16.6 min

19.6 min

+3.0 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

359

+40% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,685.2

3,153.5

+14% 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

51.1°F

+5.2°F in Omaha, NE

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

30.6 in

+16.5 in in Omaha, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Missoula, MT

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

13.3

+12% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$20.10

+99% in Omaha, NE

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 Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Omaha, NE

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 / NE)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.55%

+1.1 pp in MT

Missoula vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Omaha?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Omaha?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).