Fort Collins vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Collins
Missoula
The Verdict
Missoula is 0.9% less expensive than Fort Collins overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Collins would need approximately $74,353 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 Fort Collins has the same purchasing power as $74,353 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $75,652 in Fort Collins.
Living in Fort Collins vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is higher Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $460,000. The $71,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $489/month in Missoula. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 87 in Fort Collins and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins 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 $74,800 in Fort Collins and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $42,812 respectively. Fort Collins residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,745/month to housing in Fort Collins vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/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 Transportation, where the gap is 7 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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