Alexandria vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Missoula
The Verdict
Living in Missoula costs 26.1% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $59,483 in Missoula.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $59,483 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $94,565 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $460,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $489/month in Missoula. Missoula offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $42,812 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Missoula, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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