Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 39% higher in Washington, DC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$755
$1,763
+134% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,885
+98% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,949
+66% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$2,249
+34% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$724,600
+70% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$106,287
+63% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$71,060
+49% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
34.9 yr
+0.6 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
47.8%
41.1%
+6.7 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
63.6%
+11.9 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
16.6 min
30.3 min
+13.7 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
936.3
+56% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,685.2
3,627.9
+2% 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
58.2°F
+12.3°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
39.7 in
+25.6 in in Washington, DC

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 WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
24.4
+61% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$27.28
+170% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
10.75%
+5.1 pp in DC

Missoula vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Washington?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Washington?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).