CostIndexUSA

Fremont, CA vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Fremont
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Missoula is significantly cheaper than Fremont — 16.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fremont, you would need $66,700 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing51.3%
Fremont
194.7
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries11.5%
Fremont
108.5
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation7.0%
Fremont
111.5
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare7.0%
Fremont
100.9
Missoula
93.8
Utilities58.2%
Fremont
172.6
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$66,700
$13,300 less needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 115.6) = salary × 0.8339. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fremont, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

Missoula, MT

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

Fremont has 51.3% lower housing costs compared to Missoula.

Income & Job Market

Fremont, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
230,504
Top Industries
TechnologyManufacturingHealthcareRetailEducation

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).

Fremont, CA
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.