Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Missoula, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Missoula, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $2,580 in Missoula, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $4,234 in Missoula, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $5,889 in Missoula, MT.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 88% more expensive than in Missoula, MT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Missoula, MT 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$16.79 $16.79

50.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$74.7 $74.7

90.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.44 $9.44

45.97%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$4.24 $4.24

45.99%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.05 $3.05

20.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.32 $2.32

27.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.17 $6.17

25.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$6.04 $6.04

67.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.17 $1.17

18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.50 $3.50

31.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$5.12 $5.12

35.55%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$4.25 $4.25

36.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$25.23 $25.23

-31.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.04 $11.04

36.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$19.44 $19.44

-7.30%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.99 $4.99

26.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.57 $1.57

35.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.53 $5.53

4.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.04 $4.04

55.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.45 $2.45

38.37%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.87 $2.87

48.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.37 $2.37

16.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.86 $3.86

-33.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.08 $11.08

68.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$25.22 $25.22

-19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.94 $1.94

62.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.44 $4.44

-9.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.13 $5.13

-39.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.00 $5.00

-57.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$40.42 $40.42

2.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.00 $1.00

13.00%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$34.2K $34.2K

3.55%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.38%

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

$236 $236

$140 $140

68.61%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$53.0 $53.0

39.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$69.6 $69.6

4.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$61.1 $61.1

104.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$21.78 $21.78

189.53%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$13.54 $13.54

72.60%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$2,010 $2,010

66.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$14.2K $14.2K

329.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$69.9 $69.9

3.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$43.20 $43.20

20.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$105 $105

11.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$145 $145

-14.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,616 $1,616

174.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,275 $1,275

138.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$3,153 $3,153

188.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,869 $2,869

88.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$4,133 $4,133

355.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$3,753 $3,753

73.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,507 $3,507

49.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.08

6.74%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Missoula, MT: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $1,616 in Missoula, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $75.0 in Missoula, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $488 per month, with Missoula, MT cheaper across the board.

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

New York, NY vs Missoula, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Missoula, MT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 50% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,616 in Missoula, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,353 in New York, NY versus $2,010 in Missoula, MT. 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 $75.0 versus $142 in New York, NY. 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 New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Missoula, MT are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Missoula, MT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.