City Comparison

Barcelona vs Missoula

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Barcelona

Spain
78
Very Affordable
$365,000
Median Home
$1,375/mo
Median Rent
$37,500
Median Income

Missoula

Montana
115
Above Average
$460,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$49,234
Median Income

The Verdict

32.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 32.2%, with Barcelona being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Barcelona has equivalent purchasing power to $110,577 in Missoula.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
95
Barcelona
141
Missoula
Groceries
72
Barcelona
103
Missoula
Utilities
82
Barcelona
89
Missoula
Transportation
85
Barcelona
101
Missoula
Healthcare
68
Barcelona
102
Missoula

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Barcelona has the same purchasing power as $110,577 in Missoula.

Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $50,870 in Barcelona.

Living in Barcelona vs Missoula

Housing Costs

Barcelona's housing index of 95 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $365,000 vs $460,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Barcelona compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 72 in Barcelona and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $342/month in Barcelona vs $489/month in Missoula. Barcelona offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1764/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 82 in Barcelona and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $328 in Barcelona vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 68 in Barcelona and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 34-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $37,500 in Barcelona and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,077 and $42,812 respectively. Barcelona residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $875/month to housing in Barcelona vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Barcelona, median rent of $1,375/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona is 32.2% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 115.
A $75,000 salary in Barcelona has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $110,577 in Missoula, based on the cost of living difference.
Barcelona's housing index is 95 with median homes at $365,000, while Missoula's is 141 with median homes at $460,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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