What that salary actually buys in Missoula
Why a single person modest in Missoula costs $57,000
Missoula's cost-of-living index of 114 means everyday costs run roughly 14% above the national average. To maintain a single person modest, the standard national-average baseline of $50,000 adjusts to $57,000 here.
The biggest line item: rent
A 1-bedroom in Missoula averages $1,700/month — that's $20,400/year, or about 36% of the salary required for this lifestyle. Most financial planning rules suggest keeping housing under 30% of take-home pay; on this salary, your housing cap would be $1,026/month, which is tight against the typical Missoula 1-bedroom of $1,700/month.
Take-home reality
Your gross is $57,000, but federal taxes, FICA, and Montana state taxes typically eat 25-30%. After-tax income lands around $3,420/month — that's the number that has to cover housing, transportation, food, and savings. If that feels tight for the lifestyle you have in mind, scale up your salary target.
Comparison: Missoula's median income
Missoula's median household income is $56,234, which is below the required salary for this tier. That means most households in Missoula earn below this threshold and may be making tradeoffs to maintain a single person modest.