CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
VA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Missoula is slightly cheaper than Virginia Beach — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $81,200 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.2%
Missoula
94.9
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries+0.8%
Missoula
96
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Missoula
103.7
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Missoula
93.8
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities+24.3%
Missoula
72.1
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 1.0156. 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×

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Virginia Beach has 5.2% 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

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
459,470
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareRetailGovernment

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)

Virginia Beach, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.