Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 1% higher in Spokane, WA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$755
$884
+17% in Spokane, WA
1 Bedroom
$953
$903
+5% in Missoula, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,192
+1% in Spokane, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,442
+14% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$326,200
+24% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$65,745
+1% in Spokane, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$54,660
+14% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.2 yr
+2.9 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
47.8%
58.3%
+10.5 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
32.6%
+19.1 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
21.2 min
+4.6 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
683.6
+14% in Spokane, WA
Property Crime
3,685.2
4,931.8
+34% in Spokane, WA

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
48.9°F
+3.0°F in Spokane, WA
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
17.8 in
+3.7 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.26/gal
+23% in Spokane, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
14.9
+2% in Missoula, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$21.34
+111% in Spokane, WA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / WA)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
None
+5.7 pp in MT

Missoula vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Spokane?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).