Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 37% higher in Overland Park, KS. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$755
$1,270
+68% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,224
+28% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,589
+35% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,828
+9% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$384,400
+10% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$103,838
+59% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$50,820
+6% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.6 yr
+4.3 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
47.8%
61.5%
+13.7 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
62.9%
+11.2 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
16.6 min
19.9 min
+3.3 min in Overland Park, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
188.4
+69% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
3,685.2
1,790.5
+51% 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
55.2°F
+9.3°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
40.0 in
+25.9 in in Overland Park, KS

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
15.7
+4% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$25.12
+148% in Overland Park, KS

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 Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Overland Park, KS
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 / KS)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
5.58%
+0.1 pp in MT

Missoula vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Overland Park?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Overland Park?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).