Fayetteville vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Missoula
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 21.7%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $95,833 in Missoula.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $95,833 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $58,696 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $460,000. The $128,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $489/month in Missoula. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 24-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $59,100 in Fayetteville and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $42,812 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,379/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/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 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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