Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson?

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 Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Tucson?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Missoula vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$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 Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ 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 $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 17% higher in Missoula, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$755

$795

+5% in Tucson, AZ

1 Bedroom

$953

$891

+7% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,146

+3% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$1,520

+9% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$242,200

+43% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$54,546

+17% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$47,760

+0% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

34.6 yr

+0.3 yr in Tucson, AZ

Homeownership

47.8%

51.7%

+3.9 pp in Tucson, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

30.2%

+21.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

16.6 min

22.2 min

+5.6 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

645.8

+7% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

3,685.2

3,460

+6% 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

70.2°F

+24.3°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

11.6 in

+2.5 in in Missoula, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Sun Tran (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.2

+0% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$24.74

+144% in Tucson, AZ

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 / AZ)

None

5.6%

+5.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.50%

+3.2 pp in MT

Missoula vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson?: 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 Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Tucson?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).