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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,580 in Missoula, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,234 in Missoula, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,889 in Missoula, MT.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 50% more expensive than in Missoula, MT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Missoula, MT 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$16.79 $16.79

48.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$74.7 $74.7

33.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.44 $9.44

59.53%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.24 $4.24

50.24%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.05 $3.05

0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.32 $2.32

29.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.17 $6.17

26.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.04 $6.04

35.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.17 $1.17

3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.50 $3.50

42.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.12 $5.12

24.80%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.25 $4.25

20.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$25.23 $25.23

-16.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.04 $11.04

66.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.44 $19.44

23.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.99 $4.99

18.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.57 $1.57

19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.53 $5.53

-4.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.04 $4.04

60.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.45 $2.45

50.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.87 $2.87

17.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.37 $2.37

17.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.86 $3.86

-33.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.08 $11.08

25.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$25.22 $25.22

-40.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.94 $1.94

120.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.44 $4.44

31.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.13 $5.13

-49.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$5.00 $5.00

-65.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$40.42 $40.42

-24.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.00 $1.00

40.00%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.2K $34.2K

5.49%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.67%

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

$299 $299

$140 $140

113.66%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.0 $53.0

30.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$69.6 $69.6

25.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$61.1 $61.1

31.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$21.78 $21.78

60.38%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$13.54 $13.54

30.72%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$2,010 $2,010

50.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$14.2K $14.2K

118.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$69.9 $69.9

10.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.20 $43.20

27.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$105 $105

22.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$145 $145

9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,616 $1,616

53.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,275 $1,275

51.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,153 $3,153

50.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,869 $2,869

26.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$4,133 $4,133

83.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$3,753 $3,753

36.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,507 $3,507

77.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.08

6.09%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Missoula, MT: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,616 in Missoula, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 77% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Missoula, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 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

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

Missoula, MT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 77% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,616 in Missoula, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA 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 $100 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA 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 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.