Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 13% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$755
$825
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$953
$870
+9% in Missoula, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,000
+15% in Missoula, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,237
+26% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$271,400
+36% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$74,714
+14% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$47,970
+0% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
35.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
47.8%
60.0%
+12.2 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
37.4%
+14.3 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
17.0 min
+0.4 min in Sioux Falls, SD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
526.7
+12% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
3,685.2
2,927.1
+21% 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
45.8°F
+0.1°F in Missoula, MT
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
26.4 in
+12.2 in in Sioux Falls, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Missoula, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
15.4
+1% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$15.26
+51% in Sioux Falls, SD

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 Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Sioux Falls, SD
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 / SD)
None
4.2%
+4.2 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
None
+5.7 pp in MT

Missoula vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Sioux Falls?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).