CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is moderately cheaper than Missoula — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $75,400 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing33.0%
Missoula
94.9
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Missoula
96
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Missoula
103.7
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Missoula
93.8
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+32.9%
Missoula
72.1
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 0.9429. 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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Missoula has 33.0% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.