Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/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 $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 26% higher in Rochester, MN. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$755
$1,080
+43% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,106
+16% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,243
+6% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,646
+2% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$287,500
+33% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$87,767
+34% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$60,620
+27% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
36.4 yr
+2.1 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
47.8%
65.4%
+17.6 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
50.1%
+1.6 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
17.2 min
+0.6 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
158.9
+74% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
3,685.2
1,379
+63% 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
45.4°F
+0.5°F in Missoula, MT
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
33.0 in
+18.9 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.96/gal
+7% in Missoula, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
17.5
+16% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$14.79
+46% in Rochester, MN

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 Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Rochester, MN
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 / MN)
None
6.875%
+6.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
9.85%
+4.2 pp in MN

Missoula vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Rochester?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Rochester?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).