Missoula, MT vs Carson City, NV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Carson City, NV has a modeled overall cost index 12.3% higher than Missoula, MT.

Missoula, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,695 / month
Carson City, NV · modeled 2BR rent: $1,550 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Missoula, MT and Carson City, NV using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Missoula, MT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $182/month in Carson City, NV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,188 in Carson City, NV

Regional cost estimates: Missoula, MT uses Spokane, WA. Carson City, NV uses Reno, NV. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 12.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$182

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.2K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Missoula, MT

Population:78K

Cost Index:

92.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$572K

Carson City, NV

Population:58K

Cost Index:

104.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$562K

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Missoula, MT

The Treasure State

78K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 78K residents.

Carson City, NV

The Silver State

58K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Nevada, this city has a population of 58K residents.

💡 Advantage: Nevada has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Missoula, MT vs Carson City, NV

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Missoula, MT	Carson City, NV	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,968/mo	$2,512/mo	↑ $544more	27.6%
Transportation	$1,795/mo	$1,441/mo	↓ $354less	19.7%
Other	$1,456/mo	$1,657/mo	↑ $201more	13.8%
Healthcare	$788/mo	$601/mo	↓ $187less	23.8%
Groceries	$1,032/mo	$988/mo	↓ $44.36less	4.3%
All Utilities	$460/mo	$483/mo	↑ $23.14more	5.0%

Housing

↑ 27.6%

Missoula, MT

$1,968

Carson City, NV

$2,512

Difference

$544

Transportation

↓ 19.7%

Missoula, MT

$1,795

Carson City, NV

$1,441

Difference

$354

less

Other

↑ 13.8%

Missoula, MT

$1,456

Carson City, NV

$1,657

Difference

$201

Healthcare

↓ 23.8%

Missoula, MT

$788

Carson City, NV

$601

Difference

$187

less

Groceries

↓ 4.3%

Missoula, MT

$1,032

Carson City, NV

$988

Difference

$44.36

less

All Utilities

↑ 5.0%

Missoula, MT

$460

Carson City, NV

$483

Difference

$23.14

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,170

To$1,080

↓ $90.00

1 Bed

From$1,435

To$1,240

↓ $195

2 Bed

From$1,695

To$1,550

↓ $145

3 Bed

From$2,355

To$2,155

↓ $200

Missoula, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,330–$1,490/mo

Carson City, NVZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,210–$1,270/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Missoula, MT

$7,682

Monthly in Carson City, NV

$182

Difference

Home Values

Missoula

Carson City

$572K

Median Value

$562K

↑ +1.2%

YoY Change

↑ +1.4%

↑ +46.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +29.8%

$485K - $640K

Price Range

$463K - $685K

Homes in Carson City are 2% less expensive than Missoula

Calculate payment - Missoula Calculate payment - Carson City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $9.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$797

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

6.4%

Rate difference

Missoula, MT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Montana State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.1%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,618/month

$103.4K

Carson City, NV

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Nevada State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Missoula, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.8%

Carson City, NV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Missoula

Carson City

38 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

51.4%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

97 High

💨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🫨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

Before moving from Missoula, MT to Carson City, NV

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Carson City, NV for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Missoula, MT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Missoula to Carson City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Carson City, NV by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Missoula, MT vs Carson City, NV

How do the cost estimates for Missoula, MT and Carson City, NV compare?

Carson City, NV has a modeled overall cost index 12.3% higher than Missoula, MT. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Missoula, MT, the model estimates $152,188 in Carson City, NV. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Missoula, MT and Carson City, NV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,695/month in Missoula, MT and $1,550/month in Carson City, NV. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Montana and Nevada on TaxTakeHome.com