Living Cost Compare
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 15% higher in Missoula, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Missoula, MT
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$755
$1,103
+46% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$953
$1,024
+7% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,176
$1,213
+3% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,676
$1,394
+17% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$427,400
$224,500
+47% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,329
$55,269
+15% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,830
$54,310
+14% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.0 yr
+2.7 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
47.8%
46.0%
+1.8 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
51.7%
33.1%
+18.6 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
16.6 min
23.0 min
+6.4 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
601.9
1,138.2
+89% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,685.2
3,182.4
+14% 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
54.9°F
+9.0°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
14.1 in
43.1 in
+28.9 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Missoula, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
19.3
+27% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$29.73
+194% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.60%
+0.9 pp in DE

Missoula vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Wilmington?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Missoula versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Wilmington?
Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).