CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Scranton is slightly cheaper than Missoula — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $77,700 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.4%
Missoula
94.9
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+4.9%
Missoula
96
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.1%
Missoula
103.7
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.1%
Missoula
93.8
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+47.7%
Missoula
72.1
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 0.9710. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Missoula, MT

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

Scranton, PA

Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
67
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Missoula has 29.4% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Missoula, MT

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

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Scranton, PA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.