Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 7% higher in Missoula, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$755
$1,126
+49% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,189
+25% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,394
+19% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,406
+16% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$232,400
+46% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$60,698
+7% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$54,310
+14% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
35.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
47.8%
52.3%
+4.5 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
34.6%
+17.1 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
32.0 min
+15.4 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
917.1
+52% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
3,685.2
4,615.3
+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+11.2°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
48.5 in
+34.4 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
21.7
+44% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$26.08
+158% in Philadelphia, PA

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
$1.92
+6% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / PA)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
3.07%
+2.6 pp in MT

Missoula vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Philadelphia?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Philadelphia?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).