Missoula vs Murrieta
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Missoula
Murrieta
The Verdict
Missoula is 12.2% less expensive than Murrieta overall. A household earning $75,000 in Missoula would need approximately $85,435 in Murrieta 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 Missoula has the same purchasing power as $85,435 in Murrieta.
Conversely, $75,000 in Murrieta equals $65,840 in Missoula.
Living in Missoula vs Murrieta
Housing Costs
Missoula's housing index of 141 is lower Murrieta's 179, translating to median home prices of $460,000 vs $640,000. The $180,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,700 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Missoula compared to $2,450/mo in Murrieta, a monthly difference of $1,050.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Missoula and 115 in Murrieta. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Missoula vs $546/month in Murrieta. Missoula offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Missoula and 91 in Murrieta. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Missoula vs $364 in Murrieta. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Missoula and 104 in Murrieta. 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 $49,234 in Missoula and $114,100 in Murrieta. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $42,812 and $87,099 respectively. Murrieta residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,149/month to housing in Missoula vs $2,662/month in Murrieta. In Missoula, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Murrieta, median rent of $2,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases