Great Falls, MT vs Missoula, MT: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Missoula, MT and Great Falls, MT are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Great Falls works out to about $74,700 in Missoula, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.2% lower in Missoula, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,622 a month in Missoula and $1,428 in Great Falls, $2,328 a year more in Missoula (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $570,000 in Missoula and $340,000 in Great Falls.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Missoula was 7.8% more expensive than Great Falls.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Great Falls and Missoula
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
All items Great Falls, MT: 96.8 Missoula, MT: 96.4
Goods Great Falls, MT: 96.0 Missoula, MT: 96.0
Housing (rents) Great Falls, MT: 97.1 Missoula, MT: 94.9
Utilities Great Falls, MT: 73.0 Missoula, MT: 72.1
Other services Great Falls, MT: 98.7 Missoula, MT: 98.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.8 | 96.4 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 96.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 97.1 | 94.9 |
| Utilities | 73.0 | 72.1 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| Category | Great Falls | Missoula | Missoula vs Great Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.8 | 96.4 | −0.4% |
| Goods | 96.0 | 96.0 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 97.1 | 94.9 | −2.2% |
| Utilities | 73.0 | 72.1 | −1.3% |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,428 | $1,622 | +13.6% |
| Typical home value | $340,000 | $570,000 | +67.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Great Falls | $75,000 | $74,700 | −0.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Great Falls and Missoula has narrowed since 2008: 12.7 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.3 | 98.0 |
| 2009 | 89.3 | 96.8 |
| 2010 | 85.0 | 97.1 |
| 2011 | 91.8 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 92.3 | 93.9 |
| 2013 | 91.9 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 92.1 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 90.1 | 95.7 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 95.8 |
| 2017 | 90.2 | 97.8 |
| 2018 | 91.8 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 88.8 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 87.0 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 86.9 | 94.6 |
| 2022 | 91.2 | 90.1 |
| 2023 | 93.4 | 93.9 |
| 2024 | 96.8 | 96.4 |
Goods
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.9 | 101.6 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 99.3 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 98.1 | 95.3 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 97.5 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 103.1 |
| 2016 | 92.7 | 104.8 |
| 2017 | 98.7 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2022 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 96.0 | 96.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 38.9 | 84.3 |
| 2009 | 46.0 | 88.8 |
| 2010 | 40.1 | 93.9 |
| 2011 | 54.0 | 94.0 |
| 2012 | 59.8 | 80.3 |
| 2013 | 61.2 | 84.6 |
| 2014 | 60.7 | 87.2 |
| 2015 | 57.2 | 76.8 |
| 2016 | 53.7 | 81.1 |
| 2017 | 51.8 | 87.7 |
| 2018 | 73.8 | 76.4 |
| 2019 | 56.0 | 87.7 |
| 2020 | 54.1 | 85.5 |
| 2021 | 55.5 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 77.8 | 72.3 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 92.7 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 94.9 |
Utilities
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.4 | 75.6 |
| 2009 | 78.3 | 75.3 |
| 2010 | 85.1 | 79.4 |
| 2011 | 87.5 | 84.6 |
| 2012 | 89.4 | 82.7 |
| 2013 | 87.2 | 83.8 |
| 2014 | 89.4 | 82.4 |
| 2015 | 89.9 | 84.3 |
| 2016 | 86.2 | 86.5 |
| 2017 | 81.2 | 82.4 |
| 2018 | 76.1 | 77.7 |
| 2019 | 78.9 | 79.5 |
| 2020 | 79.2 | 79.3 |
| 2021 | 73.5 | 75.5 |
| 2022 | 72.9 | 73.1 |
| 2023 | 72.7 | 73.4 |
| 2024 | 73.0 | 72.1 |
Other services
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 101.4 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 99.3 |
| 2010 | 100.1 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 102.9 | 98.7 |
| 2012 | 102.3 | 97.5 |
| 2013 | 100.7 | 99.4 |
| 2014 | 100.8 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 100.1 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 99.8 | 95.9 |
| 2017 | 100.2 | 99.0 |
| 2018 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 92.5 | 92.5 |
| 2022 | 92.7 | 92.7 |
| 2023 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| 2024 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,622 in Missoula vs $1,428 in Great Falls
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $832 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $846 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $859 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $871 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $863 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $875 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $882 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $895 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $901 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $918 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $823 | $914 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $814 | $911 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $826 | $939 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $832 | $941 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $842 | $935 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $823 | $923 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $836 | $968 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $857 | $991 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $862 | $995 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $857 | $972 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $861 | $1,000 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $890 | $1,026 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $907 | $1,104 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $906 | $1,103 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $934 | $1,171 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $992 | $1,318 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,058 | $1,342 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,039 | $1,324 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,114 | $1,396 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,151 | $1,447 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,207 | $1,445 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,265 | $1,430 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,238 | $1,422 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,221 | $1,513 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,247 | $1,501 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,224 | $1,456 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,254 | $1,470 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,288 | $1,533 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,336 | $1,542 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,314 | $1,496 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,341 | $1,537 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,357 | $1,581 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,373 | $1,580 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,367 | $1,559 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,390 | $1,583 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,429 | $1,631 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,428 | $1,622 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $570,000 in Missoula vs $340,000 in Great Falls
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Great Falls, MT
- Missoula, MT
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Great Falls, MT | Missoula, MT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $164K | $253K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $166K | $257K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $168K | $260K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $170K | $265K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $171K | $268K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $172K | $271K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $172K | $272K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $174K | $277K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $174K | $283K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $176K | $290K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $177K | $293K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $179K | $296K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $180K | $300K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $183K | $305K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $186K | $307K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $188K | $309K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $190K | $312K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $192K | $318K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $194K | $322K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $195K | $327K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $198K | $335K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $200K | $340K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $204K | $351K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $211K | $376K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $219K | $406K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $231K | $448K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $240K | $471K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $248K | $485K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $263K | $514K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $277K | $547K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $278K | $540K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $278K | $527K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $279K | $519K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $289K | $530K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $295K | $544K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $298K | $547K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $303K | $552K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $307K | $554K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $310K | $558K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $318K | $565K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $325K | $565K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $328K | $562K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $331K | $562K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $334K | $569K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $339K | $570K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $340K | $568K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $340K | $570K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.