CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Yakima is slightly cheaper than Missoula — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $79,300 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.5%
Missoula
94.9
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Missoula
96
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Missoula
103.7
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Missoula
93.8
Yakima
94.5
Utilities+27.5%
Missoula
72.1
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$79,300
$700 less needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 0.9907. 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×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Missoula has 23.5% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.