Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Living in Missoula isn't cheap. But how much does someone actually need to earn just to cover basic expenses?
New estimates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator put that number at nearly $50,000 a year for a single adult with no children in Missoula.
According to MIT, one adult living alone in Missoula needs to earn about $24 an hour, or just under $50,000 annually before taxes, to meet basic needs. That's roughly in line with the estimate for Montana as a whole. And MIT's calculation is focused on necessities — including housing, food, health care and transportation — rather than discretionary spending. While Missoula's housing costs can push expenses higher, transportation costs are substantially lower than the statewide estimate, helping bring the overall living-wage figure closer to Montana's average.
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FULL STORY: nbcmontana.com/news/local/what-does-it-take-to-live-in-missoula-mit-says-nearly-50k-a-year
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Living in Missoula isn't cheap. But how much does someone actually need to earn just to cover basic expenses?
New estimates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator put that number at nearly $50,000 a year for a single adult with no children in Missoula.
According to MIT, one adult living alone in Missoula needs to earn about $24 an hour, or just under $50,000 annually before taxes, to meet basic needs. That's roughly in line with the estimate for Montana as a whole. And MIT's calculation is focused on necessities — including housing, food, health care and transportation — rather than discretionary spending. While Missoula's housing costs can push expenses higher, transportation costs are substantially lower than the statewide estimate, helping bring the overall living-wage figure closer to Montana's average.
#montana #montanamoment #nbcmontana #mtwx #news #localnews #local #montanaliving #montanalife #costofliving #money #missoula #watch #economy #family
FULL STORY: nbcmontana.com/news/local/what-does-it-take-to-live-in-missoula-mit-says-nearly-50k-a-year
Stay up to date with our digital and social media content:
Facebook: facebook.com/NBCMontana
Twitter: twitter.com/NBCMontana
Instagram: instagram.com/nbc_montana
Latest local news and weather: nbcmontana.com
Latest Weather Forecast: nbcmontana.com/weather
Download our App: nbcmontana.com/station/nbc-montana-news-and-weather-app
Share Your Photos and Videos: NBCMontana.com/ChimeIn
Send us News Tips: ml-Missoula-KECI-News@sbgtv.com
Call our newsroom: 406-721-5642
NBC Montana is a MT based station and a NBC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions.
