Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Missoula, MT and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Missoula, MT: $2,609 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

124

Cost of Living Index in Missoula, MT
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Missoula, MT Living Index
182

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Missoula, MT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,609

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,762

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Missoula, MT and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Missoula, MT and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,609 in Missoula, MT versus $3,762 in Seattle, WA.

Missoula, MT $2,609
Seattle, WA $3,762

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,087 in Missoula, MT versus $5,651 in Seattle, WA.

Missoula, MT $4,087
Seattle, WA $5,651

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,565 in Missoula, MT versus $7,541 in Seattle, WA.

Missoula, MT $5,565
Seattle, WA $7,541

Living in Missoula, MT costs roughly 31% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Missoula, MT 93% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.73 $16.73

$23.80 $23.80

-29.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$98.6 $98.6

-23.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.27 $9.27

$14.94 $14.94

-37.95%

Cappuccino

$4.37 $4.37

$6.79 $6.79

-35.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$3.23 $3.23

-4.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$3.15 $3.15

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$8.21 $8.21

-28.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$7.87 $7.87

-24.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.17 $1.17

-4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$5.29 $5.29

-34.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.76 $5.76

-13.54%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$4.89 $4.89

-12.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.81 $24.81

$20.25 $20.25

22.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 $9.67

$17.95 $17.95

-46.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$23.35 $23.35

-18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$5.94 $5.94

-19.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.89 $1.89

-22.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$5.35 $5.35

21.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$6.57 $6.57

-43.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.39 $3.39

-31.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.88 $2.88

2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.89 $2.89

-16.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.43 $2.43

60.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.50 $10.50

$12.18 $12.18

-13.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.82 $24.82

$15.24 $15.24

62.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$4.38 $4.38

-54.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.89 $5.89

-25.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.52 $2.52

103.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.99 $4.99

$1.72 $1.72

190.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.29 $39.29

$29.70 $29.70

32.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.51 $1.51

-27.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.3K $32.3K

$36.2K $36.2K

-10.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K $24.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

-4.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$139 $139

$289 $289

-51.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.7 $52.7

$69.1 $69.1

-23.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$84.8 $84.8

-18.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.22 $49.22

$69.4 $69.4

-29.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$35.05 $35.05

-36.52%

Cinema Ticket

$13.75 $13.75

$17.97 $17.97

-23.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,009 $2,009

$2,819 $2,819

-28.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$43.9K $43.9K

-59.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 $66.4

$91.2 $91.2

-27.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 $44.46

$55.1 $55.1

-19.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$127 $127

-17.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$162 $162

-7.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,522 $1,522

$2,579 $2,579

-40.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 $1,324

$1,943 $1,943

-31.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,992 $2,992

$5,100 $5,100

-41.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,649 $2,649

$3,541 $3,541

-25.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,211 $4,211

$7,357 $7,357

-42.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,475 $3,475

$4,921 $4,921

-29.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,666 $3,666

$6,448 $6,448

-43.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.84

6.8

0.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Missoula, MT: November 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Missoula, MT

$1.3K 50.7%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.6% 46.8% $619

Groceries & Markets

Missoula, MT

$477 18.3%

Seattle, WA

$544 14.5% 13.9% $66

Eating Out

Missoula, MT

$277 10.6%

Seattle, WA

$399 10.6% 44% $122

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Missoula, MT

$261 10%

Seattle, WA

$443 11.8% 69.8% $182

Clothing & Footwear

Missoula, MT

$164 6.3%

Seattle, WA

$196 5.2% 19.5% $32

Sport & Entertainment

Missoula, MT

$77 2.9%

Seattle, WA

$105 2.8% 37.4% $29

Getting Around

Missoula, MT

$30 * 1.2%

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5% 339% $102

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,522 in Missoula, MT and $2,579 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 76% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $75 in Missoula, MT vs $99 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $477 vs $544 per month, with Missoula, MT cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Missoula, MT

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

21:44 9:44 PM

20:44 8:44 PM

1 h behind Missoula, MT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

73,489

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.894 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Missoula, MT Seattle, WA 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Missoula, MT
Seattle, WA

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Missoula, MT vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Missoula, MT is about 31% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, transport, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Missoula, MT. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,522 in Missoula, MT versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,009 in Missoula, MT versus $2,819 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Missoula, MT – a meal for two runs $75 versus $99 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Missoula, MT is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Missoula, MT is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

It comes down to priorities – Missoula, MT wins on affordability, Seattle, WA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.