Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Raleigh?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Raleigh?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Missoula vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 21% higher in Raleigh, NC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$755

$1,301

+72% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$953

$1,323

+39% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,462

+24% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$1,715

+2% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$377,800

+12% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$82,424

+26% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$51,990

+9% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

34.7 yr

+0.4 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

47.8%

51.2%

+3.4 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

52.9%

+1.2 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

16.6 min

23.4 min

+6.8 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

491.5

+18% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,685.2

2,838.4

+23% 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

60.6°F

+14.7°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

46.0 in

+31.9 in in Raleigh, NC

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)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

14.7

+3% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$30.10

+197% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

None

4.75%

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.99%

+1.7 pp in MT

Missoula vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Raleigh?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Raleigh?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).