Uprootmap
Portland vs Missoula
Portland and Missoula
Photo: ATOTHEJPiano / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Missoula are under the US rate in this release, 3.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Portland to Missoula
In 2022-2023, 76 households filed a move from Portland to Missoula (about 113 people, average adjusted gross income $52,105). 43 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,416 in Portland and $1,210 in Missoula. Portland has a state tax on wages. Missoula has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Missoula is 86% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Portland.
Missoula averages 189 sunny days, with July highs around 88°F and January nights around 21°F. Portland is 144 sunny days, 82°F in July, 36°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Missoula and 26 in Portland.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 76 households moved Portland → Missoula (about 113 people, average AGI $52,105). 43 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Portland and Missoula changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 486 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,050–$3,900
- Container or pod
- $1,450–$2,700
- Rent a truck
- $650–$1,250
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Dig into Missoula
Questions
Is Missoula cheaper than Portland after tax and rent?
Yes. Missoula leaves about $619 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,416 in Portland and $1,210 in Missoula.
Does Missoula have state income tax?
Missoula is in Montana, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Portland to Missoula?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.