City Comparison

Beaumont vs Missoula

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Missoula

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

The Verdict

32.2%

Beaumont is 32.2% less expensive than Missoula overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $110,577 in Missoula to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
141
Missoula
Groceries
96
Beaumont
103
Missoula
Utilities
102
Beaumont
89
Missoula
Transportation
93
Beaumont
101
Missoula
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
102
Missoula

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Beaumont vs Missoula

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $460,000. The $294,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,116 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $489/month in Missoula. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $356 in Missoula. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont 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 $57,000 in Beaumont and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $42,812 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/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

Beaumont is 32.2% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 115.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $110,577 in Missoula, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Missoula's is 141 with median homes at $460,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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