Dublin vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dublin
Missoula
The Verdict
Dublin is 9.6% less expensive than Missoula overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dublin would need approximately $82,933 in Missoula to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Dublin has the same purchasing power as $82,933 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $67,826 in Dublin.
Living in Dublin vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Dublin's housing index of 128 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $470,000 vs $460,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Dublin compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Dublin and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Dublin vs $489/month in Missoula. Dublin offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 110 in Dublin and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Dublin 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 82 in Dublin and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,000 in Dublin and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,846 and $42,812 respectively. Dublin residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,307/month to housing in Dublin vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Dublin, median rent of $2,125/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 Utilities, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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