CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Missoula is slightly cheaper than Waterbury — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $82,800 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.1%
Missoula
94.9
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries+1.4%
Missoula
96
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+4.0%
Missoula
103.7
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.9%
Missoula
93.8
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+104.7%
Missoula
72.1
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$82,800
$2,800 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 1.0353. 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×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Missoula has 6.1% lower housing costs compared to Waterbury.

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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.