Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Portland?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Portland?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Missoula vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 26% higher in Portland, OR. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$755

$1,294

+71% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$953

$1,440

+51% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,741

+48% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$2,053

+22% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$557,600

+30% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$88,792

+36% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$60,690

+27% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

38.6 yr

+4.3 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

47.8%

52.8%

+5.0 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

53.5%

+1.8 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

16.6 min

24.6 min

+8.0 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

732.3

+22% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

3,685.2

5,609.4

+52% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+8.6°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

42.9 in

+28.7 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Portland, OR

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

16.3

+8% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.60

+113% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / OR)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.90%

+4.3 pp in OR

Missoula vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Portland?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Portland?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).