Cost of Living in Missoula, MT
| Cost of Living in Missoula, MT | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 3% lower | 3% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% higher | 0% |
| Food | 1% lower | 2% higher |
| Healthcare | 5% higher | 5% higher |
| Transportation | 3% higher | 0% |
| Goods & Services | 3% lower | 0% |
The cost of living in Missoula, MT is 1% lower than the state average and same as the national average. Missoula, MT housing is 3% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 0% . When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% pricier in Missoula, MT than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 0% .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 0% in Missoula, MT.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Missoula is $1,585, while home prices circle around $483,018.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Missoula, energy bills cost around $193.35 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.32 in Missoula, a dozen eggs go for around $3.31 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.10.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Missoula, an optometry check-up costs around $111.02, while a dentist appointment is priced $114.92 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.99 in Missoula, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $64.15.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $40.19 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $38.91.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Missoula, you should budget around $11.48 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $33.16, while dry cleaning costs about $17.77.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Missoula, the median household income is $65,329.