CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Missoula — 13.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $69,400 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−54.9%
Missoula
94.9
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−2.4%
Missoula
96
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.1%
Missoula
103.7
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.1%
Missoula
93.8
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities≈ Equal
Missoula
72.1
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$69,400
$10,600 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 0.8672. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Missoula, MT

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

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Missoula has 54.9% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Missoula, MT

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Missoula vs other cities

Missoula, MT
vs
Billings, MT
Index: 96.4Index: 93.5
Missoula, MT
vs
Bozeman, MT
Index: 96.4Index: 102.5
Missoula, MT
vs
Bismarck, ND
Index: 96.4Index: 91
Missoula, MT
vs
Gulfport, MS
Index: 96.4Index: 90
Missoula, MT
vs
Greenville, SC
Index: 96.4Index: 93.3

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.