Kenosha vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Kenosha
Missoula
The Verdict
Kenosha is 20.9% less expensive than Missoula overall. A household earning $75,000 in Kenosha would need approximately $94,780 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 Kenosha has the same purchasing power as $94,780 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $59,348 in Kenosha.
Living in Kenosha vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Kenosha's housing index of 82 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $460,000. The $185,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Kenosha compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Kenosha and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Kenosha 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 95 in Kenosha and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kenosha vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kenosha 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 $68,900 in Kenosha and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,714 and $42,812 respectively. Kenosha residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,608/month to housing in Kenosha vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/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 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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