Compare Cost of Living Data

Compare the cost of living, employment tax, and crime between

Ocala, Florida and Missoula, Montana

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How much money do you need to maintain a similar lifestyle in a different city?

If you're making
$30,000 in Ocala, Florida,
You would need to make
$36,146 in Missoula, Montana
to maintain the same standard of living.
Missoula, Montana is 21%
more expensive than Ocala, Florida.

Cost of Living Information

Ocala vs. Missoula Affordability Breakdown

The cost of living index is calculated based on accumulating the cost of food, transportation, health services, rent, utilities, taxes, and miscellaneous expenses.

Ocala, Florida is ranked

4,430/5,673 cities in United States

Missoula, Montana is ranked

2,135/5,673 cities in United States

Compared to National Average

Ocala, Florida

Missoula, Montana
Below Average
Average
Above Average
0
- 15%




+ 2%

241/250 cities in Florida

Compared to State Average
Below Average
Average
Above Average
0
- 19%


6/38 cities in Montana

Compared to State Average
Below Average
Average
Above Average
0


+ 9%

Assumptions Used to Calculate the Cost of Living Index:

Salary$72,000Edit
House SizeTwo Bedroom AptEdit
Family SizeFourEdit
Ownership vs. RentRentEdit
Need more details? Upgrade to ERI's Assessor Platform for more comprehensive information.

Research cost of living data for a single location

Affordability Breakdown


Ocala, Florida

Missoula, Montana
Below Average
Average
Above Average
0
Food info




Transportation info




Housing info




Health info




The following are collected for use in calculating cost of food: meats, dairy products, produce, bakery products, miscellaneous grocery products, fast food, and average casual restaurant.

The data used to calculate the cost of food score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute' Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed food price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.
The cost of transportation score uses local data on commuting patterns and city dispersion combined with fuel cost factors, public transportation, and efficiency patterns of public transportation in relationship to a transportation price level index. A relative cost of airline travel component is also included. In major cities, where parking is a substantial cost, estimates are included for parking expenses during regular business hours.

Transportation factors also include the yearly total cost of operating automobile(s) and/or equivalent commuter expense for ten miles.The cost of operating an automobile defaults to 20 miles round trip daily, maintenance, taxes and licensing fees, insurance, gasoline costs including taxes, etc.Costs vary according to changes to number of vehicles, combined value and combined prose, and annual mileage/kilometers.Sources include IRS allowed reimbursement policies, local gasoline, insurance, licensing and maintenance/service prices.

The data used to calculate the cost of transportation score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute's Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed transportation price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.
The following are collected for use in determining the cost of housing score: square footage, monthly rent, home prices, and utilities.

For the estimated monthly rent prices, data on average and median rent price per square foot on a 900 square foot (2 bed room), unfurnished higher-quality apartment is collected.Estimated apartment rental prices assume a standard lease (usually 1-year) is signed.The same geographic assumptions and data standards used for home prices are applied to data collection and survey procedures.Utilities are estimated based on costs for common heating/cooling/sources of energy for the location. Water and sewer cost estimates are also included.

The data used to calculate the cost of housing score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute's Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed housing price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.
The following are collected for use in the health care grade estimate: a "check-up" to a primary care physician, a regular cleaning with a dentist, and the cost of a widely prescribed non-generic pharmaceutical drug.

Health care services include out-of-pocket costs for the employee and carrier zone rates by location, along with hospital costs. They are based primarily upon group medical benefits as tracked by national carriers and in-house methodology. Health care services vary by family size.

The data used to calculate the cost of health care score is a sample of data pulled from ERI Economic Research Institute's Relocation Assessor. For a more detailed health care price index, please try a free demo of the cloud-based Relocation Assessor.
In this graph, we break down the overall cost of living into some of the major contributing factors. ERI downloads housing sales data from commercially available sources. Gasoline, consumables, and medical care premium costs are also collected from authoritative online databases. ERI research staff then audits these sources to help aid them in finding the cost of living compared to other locations.

Cost of Labor in Ocala, FL

Lower than US Average

Cost of Labor in Missoula, MT

Lower than US Average
The exact percent cost of labor differential can be found in ERI's Assessor Platform.

Area Information

Ocala, Florida vs. Missoula, Montana Salary Comparison

Average Salary in Ocala, FL

$58,300 Yearly

$28 Hourly

Average Salary in Missoula, MT

$57,960 Yearly

$28 Hourly

Median Household Income in Ocala

The median household income is
$42,361

Median Household Income in Missoula

The median household income is
$50,947

Median House Price in Ocala

The median home price is
$149,800

Median House Price in Missoula

The median home price is
$301,700

State Taxes in Florida

This ranking is based on income tax rates
6th lowest

state tax rate in the US

State Taxes in Montana

This ranking is based on income tax rates
11st highest

state tax rate in the US

Comparing Walk Scores

Walk Scores are provided by walkscore.com. These scores summarize the walkability and public transit options available in a city.

Walk Score in Ocala, FL

Walk Scores are provided by walkscore.com. These scores summarize the walkability and public transit options available in a city.

Walk Score in Missoula, MT

Walk Scores are provided by walkscore.com. These scores summarize the walkability and public transit options available in a city.

Employment Levels in Ocala, FL vs. Missoula, MT

Employment Rate per Month

Employment rate is calculated as the average change in the number of jobs added to the labor market per month over the span of the previous year.

Ocala

145

Missoula

29

Labor Force Count

The labor force is estimated by the number of employed people plus the unemployed who are looking for work.

Ocala

152,346

Missoula

68,743

Unemployment Rate

Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labor force.

Ocala

4%

Missoula

4%

Upward Mobility Rate

Upward mobility is a measure of the average economic outcome of a child from a below-median income family compared to their parents.

Ocala

38%

Missoula

44%
Yearly Crime Overview in Ocala, FL
Total Population: 61,275
Crime Rate: 3.83%

US National

Ocala
Violent Crime
283*
413*
Property Crime
1,344*
1,936*
Total Crime
1,627*
2,349*
The crime rate in Ocala is 3.83%. Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population.
Yearly Crime Overview in Missoula, MT
Total Population: 77,852
Crime Rate: 3.87%

US National

Missoula
Violent Crime
359*
490*
Property Crime
1,708*
2,522*
Total Crime
2,067*
3,012*
The crime rate in Missoula is 3.87%. Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population.
Violent Crime Overview in Ocala, FL
Total Violent Crime: 413
Violent Crime Rate: 0.67%

US National

Ocala
Murder
4*
3*
Robbery
54*
61*
Assault
197*
294*
The violent crime rate in Ocala is 0.67%. Violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported violent crimes (murder, robbery, and assault) by the total population.
Violent Crime Overview in Missoula, MT
Total Violent Crime: 490
Violent Crime Rate: 0.63%

US National

Missoula
Murder
5*
1*
Robbery
69*
39*
Assault
250*
392*
The violent crime rate in Missoula is 0.63%. Violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported violent crimes (murder, robbery, and assault) by the total population.
Property Crime Overview in Ocala, FL
Total Property Crime: 1,936
Property Crime Rate: 3.16%

US National

Ocala
Burglary
199*
161*
Larceny
961*
1,663*
Vehicle Theft
195*
112*
Arson
9*
10*
The property crime rate in Ocala is 3.16%. Property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported property crimes (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson) by the total population.
Property Crime Overview in Missoula, MT
Total Property Crime: 2,522
Property Crime Rate: 3.24%

US National

Missoula
Burglary
253*
252*
Larceny
1,221*
2,095*
Vehicle Theft
248*
175*
Arson
12*
20*
The property crime rate in Missoula is 3.24%. Property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported property crimes (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson) by the total population.

Search

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FAQs

What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index is a broad measurement of the cost of different expenses expected by the average person living in a certain location. Some of the categories tracked include health care costs, transportation, housing, groceries, and more. These numbers are tracked in specific locations to gauge how much it costs to live in a certain area over time.

Another good way to interpret this general number is to ask the question, "How many goods and/or services does a specific amount of money purchase in a given location?" An easy example would be that $100 goes further in Reno, Nevada, than it does in San Francisco, California. The goods and services tracked are need-based, meaning entertainment and other incurred expenses not required to live in a certain area are not tracked.

The main purpose of a cost of living index is to help a person quickly decide if moving from one location to another will increase or decrease quality of life.

How did we calculate our cost of living index?

Cost of living data are derived from ERI's cost of living surveys and web digitization of public domain records. Data are comprised of health care, transportation, housing, and grocery costs, which are then averaged out across the county. On the graphs above, the "0" represents the country's average. The percentage can either be lower, expressed by a negative number, or higher than the national average, expressed by a positive number. The important part to remember is the locations are compared to an average of other locations.

How did we calculate our cost of living index?

Cost of labor may sound like cost of living, but it refers to the price of labor as opposed to the cost to living in a location. Cost of labor refers to all the upfront costs that an employer must pay when hiring work from a particular area. This factors in costs such as the payroll taxes and required benefits when hiring from a particular location. This number is displayed as a percent average higher or lower than the national average. To see the cost of labor data for a particular location, please fill out this quote form with your location of interest.

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