Missoula vs Springfield
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Missoula
Springfield
The Verdict
Springfield is 47.4% less expensive than Missoula overall. A household earning $75,000 in Missoula would need approximately $50,870 in Springfield 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 $50,870 in Springfield.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $110,577 in Missoula.
Living in Missoula vs Springfield
Housing Costs
Missoula's housing index of 141 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $460,000 vs $162,000. The $298,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,368 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Missoula compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Missoula and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Missoula vs $466/month in Springfield. 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 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Missoula vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Missoula and 91 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $49,234 in Missoula and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $42,812 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield 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 $1,528/month in Springfield. In Missoula, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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