CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableMO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

St. Louis is slightly cheaper than Missoula — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $78,900 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.8%
Missoula
94.9
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries+4.2%
Missoula
96
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Missoula
103.7
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Missoula
93.8
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities3.1%
Missoula
72.1
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 0.9865. 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×

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

Missoula has 16.8% lower housing costs compared to St. Louis.

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

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

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)

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.