Lowell vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lowell
Missoula
The Verdict
Missoula is 13.9% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lowell would need approximately $65,840 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 Lowell has the same purchasing power as $65,840 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $85,435 in Lowell.
Living in Lowell vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Lowell's housing index of 152 is higher Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $429,000 vs $460,000. The $31,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Lowell compared to $1,400/mo in Missoula, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Lowell and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Lowell 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 151 in Lowell and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $604 in Lowell 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 118 in Lowell and 102 in Missoula. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $79,700 in Lowell and $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,840 and $42,812 respectively. Lowell residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,860/month to housing in Lowell vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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