Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Salem?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Salem?

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

Missoula vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 9% higher in Salem, 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

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$755

$1,075

+42% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$953

$989

+4% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,337

+14% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$1,778

+6% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$382,400

+11% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$71,900

+10% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$55,310

+16% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

47.8%

55.7%

+7.9 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

31.4%

+20.3 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

16.6 min

22.4 min

+5.8 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

540.6

+10% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,685.2

2,878.6

+22% 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

53.0°F

+7.1°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

39.7 in

+25.5 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

16.3

+8% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.60

+113% in Salem, 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 Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Salem?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Salem?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Salem 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).