CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Missoula is slightly cheaper than Fort Collins — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $76,300 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing21.3%
Fort Collins
120.6
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Collins
96.1
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Fort Collins
104.8
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare1.1%
Fort Collins
94.8
Missoula
93.8
Utilities12.3%
Fort Collins
82.2
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$76,300
$3,700 less needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9535. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Missoula, MT

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

Fort Collins has 21.3% lower housing costs compared to Missoula.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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).

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.