CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Missoula is moderately cheaper than Denver — 8.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $72,900 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing35.4%
Denver
146.9
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries5.0%
Denver
101
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Denver
104.4
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Denver
94.5
Missoula
93.8
Utilities18.0%
Denver
87.9
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Denver to see what you'd need to earn in Missoula to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$72,900
$7,100 less needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9112. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Denver has 35.4% lower housing costs compared to Missoula.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.