CostIndexUSA

Garden Grove, CA vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Missoula is significantly cheaper than Garden Grove — 15.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Garden Grove, you would need $67,900 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing44.3%
Garden Grove
170.4
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries9.9%
Garden Grove
106.6
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation5.4%
Garden Grove
109.6
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare5.3%
Garden Grove
99.1
Missoula
93.8
Utilities54.5%
Garden Grove
158.6
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$67,900
$12,100 less needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8486. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Missoula, MT

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

Garden Grove has 44.3% lower housing costs compared to Missoula.

Income & Job Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

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).

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.