CostIndexUSA

Bend, OR vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Missoula is moderately cheaper than Bend — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bend, you would need $74,400 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.7%
Bend
110
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries8.8%
Bend
105.3
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation1.5%
Bend
105.3
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Bend
95.3
Missoula
93.8
Utilities31.3%
Bend
105
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$74,400
$5,600 less needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9305. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bend, OR

Median Home Price
$653,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
110
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Bend has 13.7% lower housing costs compared to Missoula.

Income & Job Market

Bend, OR

Median Household Income
$91,700
Per Capita Income
$52,300
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
102,059
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailConstruction

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bend, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.