Juneau vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Juneau
Missoula
The Verdict
Missoula is 10.4% less expensive than Juneau overall. A household earning $75,000 in Juneau would need approximately $67,913 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 Juneau has the same purchasing power as $67,913 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $82,826 in Juneau.
Living in Juneau vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Juneau's housing index of 131 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $460,000. The $64,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,164 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $489/month in Missoula. Missoula offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1140/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau 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 151 in Juneau and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 49-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $42,812 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 Utilities, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases