Fayetteville vs 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 $106,481 in Missoula.

Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $52,826 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Missoula

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $460,000. The $247,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,056 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $489/month in Missoula. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/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 106 in Fayetteville 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 $49,800 in Fayetteville and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 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 $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/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 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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