Kent vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Kent
Missoula
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 19.1%, with Missoula being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Kent has equivalent purchasing power to $62,956 in Missoula.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Kent has the same purchasing power as $62,956 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $89,348 in Kent.
Living in Kent vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Kent's housing index of 195 is higher Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $595,000 vs $460,000. The $135,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,772 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,750/mo in Kent compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 109 in Kent and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $518/month in Kent vs $489/month in Missoula. Missoula offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Kent and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Kent vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 122 in Kent and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $98,300 in Kent and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,752 and $42,812 respectively. Kent residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,294/month to housing in Kent vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Kent, median rent of $1,750/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 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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