CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
AZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Missoula is moderately cheaper than Tempe — 7.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $85,700 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+27.7%
Missoula
94.9
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.0%
Missoula
96
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+5.3%
Missoula
103.7
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.3%
Missoula
93.8
Tempe
98.8
Utilities+29.4%
Missoula
72.1
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$85,700
$5,700 more needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 1.0716. 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×

Tempe, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Tempe has 27.7% higher housing costs compared to Missoula.

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

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

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)

Tempe, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.