Overall
96.4
-3.6 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Missoula, MT
Cost-of-living indicators for Missoula, MT, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 96.4
- Overall RPP
- #140
- of 387 metros
- 94.9
- Rents RPP
- $104K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Missoula costs less than 36% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 96.4, 3.6% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 72.1.
- 96.4
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #140
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 64%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 94.9
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $103,686 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $96,445.
What the Numbers Mean for Missoula
Missoula ranks #140 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 96.4, Missoula, MT is 3.6% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Missoula's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus services at 72.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $103,686 inside Missoula, while a household needs roughly $96,445 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 94.9 — 5.1% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Missoula's overall index has stayed within 1.5 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.0 and services at 72.1, meaning everyday spending in Missoula is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Missoula vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
96 Top 36% higher than 64% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Missoula cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
94.9 RPP
- Services
Services
72.1 RPP
- Overall
Overall
96.4 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96 RPP
What this shows Missoula's gap from the national average is led by services at 72.1. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Missoula's cost comes from
Metros near Missoula's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.6, rents 92.9). Missoula is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Missoula's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.0
-4.0 below avg
Services
72.1
-27.9 below avg
Rents
94.9
-5.1 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$96,445
in Missoula, MT purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$48,222
$75,000 nationally
$72,334
$125,000 nationally
$120,556
$150,000 nationally
$144,668
$200,000 nationally
$192,890
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.5 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.0 |
| 2009 | 96.8 |
| 2010 | 97.1 |
| 2011 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 93.9 |
| 2013 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 95.7 |
| 2016 | 95.8 |
| 2017 | 97.8 |
| 2018 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 94.5 |
| 2022 | 90.1 |
| 2023 | 93.9 |
| 2024 | 96.4 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Missoula, MT's index of 96.4.
What this means for Missoula
How to read Missoula's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $103,686 in Missoula. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 94.9 (5.1% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $70,888; adjusted for Missoula's price level that is about $73,501 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Missoula head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Missoula, MT? ▼
Missoula, MT has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 96.4, meaning it is 3.6% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.0, services at 72.1, and rents at 94.9. It ranks #140 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Missoula, MT to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $96,445 in Missoula, MT. Conversely, $100K earned in Missoula, MT has the purchasing power of $103,686 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Missoula, MT? ▼
Rents in Missoula, MT are indexed at 94.9, which is 5.1% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Missoula, MT getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Missoula, MT's overall cost index changed by -1.5 points (from 98.0 to 96.4). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Missoula, MT? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Winchester, Wilmington, Cheyenne. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Missoula, MT's 96.4.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
