Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Virginia Beach?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Virginia Beach?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Virginia Beach?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Missoula vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 28% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$755

$1,496

+98% in Virginia Beach, VA

1 Bedroom

$953

$1,357

+42% in Virginia Beach, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,559

+33% in Virginia Beach, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$1,857

+11% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$366,300

+14% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$90,685

+39% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$49,430

+3% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

37.4 yr

+3.1 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

47.8%

64.9%

+17.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

40.4%

+11.3 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

16.6 min

23.2 min

+6.6 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

96.9

+84% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,685.2

1,664.9

+55% 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

59.9°F

+14.0°F in Virginia Beach, VA

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

44.3 in

+30.2 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Missoula, MT

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

17.2

+14% in Virginia Beach, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$27.20

+169% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Missoula, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / VA)

None

5.3%

+5.3 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

5.75%

+0.1 pp in VA

Missoula vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Virginia Beach?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Virginia Beach?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).