Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 30% higher in Missoula, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$755
$760
+1% in Springfield, MO
1 Bedroom
$953
$772
+19% in Missoula, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$926
+21% in Missoula, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,158
+31% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$165,200
+61% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$45,984
+30% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$45,780
+4% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
33.6 yr
+0.7 yr in Missoula, MT
Homeownership
47.8%
42.9%
+4.9 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
30.3%
+21.4 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
18.0 min
+1.4 min in Springfield, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
1,189.8
+98% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,685.2
4,231.6
+15% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+10.4°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
45.6 in
+31.4 in in Springfield, MO

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
16.2
+7% in Springfield, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$28.78
+184% in Springfield, MO

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 Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Springfield, MO
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 / MO)
None
4.225%
+4.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
4.70%
+1.0 pp in MT

Missoula vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Springfield?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).