Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Worcester?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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 Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Worcester?

Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Missoula vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $65,329 in Missoula, MT and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 3% higher in Worcester, MA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Missoula, MT

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$755

$1,087

+44% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$953

$1,028

+8% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,176

$1,476

+26% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,676

$1,675

+0% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$427,400

$339,500

+21% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$65,329

$67,544

+3% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,830

$57,830

+21% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

34.1 yr

+0.2 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

47.8%

42.4%

+5.4 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

51.7%

34.1%

+17.6 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

16.6 min

25.1 min

+8.5 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

601.9

640.2

+6% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

3,685.2

1,580.3

+57% 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

47.9°F

+2.0°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

14.1 in

48.1 in

+33.9 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.07/gal

+5% in Missoula, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.6

+96% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$30.66

+203% in Worcester, MA

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

$1.92

+6% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.00%

+3.3 pp in MA

Missoula vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Missoula or Worcester?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Missoula than in Worcester?: 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 Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Missoula or Worcester?: Missoula is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).