Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/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 $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 33% higher in South Burlington, VT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$755
$1,557
+106% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,533
+61% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,805
+53% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$2,356
+41% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$399,600
+7% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$97,229
+49% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$60,020
+25% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.8 yr
+4.5 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
47.8%
60.1%
+12.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
65.1%
+13.4 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
18.9 min
+2.3 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
239.4
+60% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
3,685.2
4,446
+21% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+0.1°F in South Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
36.8 in
+22.7 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
24.4
+61% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$26.07
+158% in South Burlington, VT

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
$1.92
+6% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
8.75%
+3.1 pp in VT

Missoula vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or South Burlington?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or South Burlington?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).