Missoula vs Orem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Missoula
Orem
The Verdict
Missoula is 1.7% less expensive than Orem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Missoula would need approximately $76,304 in Orem 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 $76,304 in Orem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Orem equals $73,718 in Missoula.
Living in Missoula vs Orem
Housing Costs
Missoula's housing index of 141 is lower Orem's 147, translating to median home prices of $460,000 vs $528,000. The $68,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,416 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Missoula compared to $1,400/mo in Orem, a monthly difference of $0.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Missoula and 98 in Orem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Missoula vs $466/month in Orem. 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 89 in Missoula and 92 in Orem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Missoula vs $368 in Orem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Missoula and 95 in Orem. 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 $86,000 in Orem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $42,812 and $73,504 respectively. Orem 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 $2,007/month in Orem. In Missoula, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Orem, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 7 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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