CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Ontario, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
CA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Missoula is moderately cheaper than Ontario — 10.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $88,300 in Ontario. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+36.2%
Missoula
94.9
Ontario
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.6%
Missoula
96
Ontario
101.4
🚗 Transportation+2.5%
Missoula
103.7
Ontario
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.6%
Missoula
93.8
Ontario
96.2
Utilities+106.1%
Missoula
72.1
Ontario
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ontario, CA
$88,300
$8,300 more needed in Ontario

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 1.1037. 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×

Ontario, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Ontario has 36.2% higher housing costs compared to Missoula.

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

Ontario, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
175,265
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

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)

Ontario, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.