Johnson City vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Johnson City
Missoula
The Verdict
Johnson City is 26.1% less expensive than Missoula overall. A household earning $75,000 in Johnson City would need approximately $101,471 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 Johnson City has the same purchasing power as $101,471 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $55,435 in Johnson City.
Living in Johnson City vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Johnson City's housing index of 66 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $460,000. The $184,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,964 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City vs $489/month in Missoula. Johnson City offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Johnson City and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 94 in Johnson City 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 $55,400 in Johnson City and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $42,812 respectively. Johnson City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Johnson City vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Johnson City, 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 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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