Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Missoula, MT?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.4% of gross income.
Missoula rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Montana cities have lower median rent than Missoula, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Missoula
View full rent data for Missoula, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Missoula, MT?
Median rent in Missoula is $1,550 a month. A typical police officer in Montana earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 27.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Missoula?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Montana (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. Missoula's current median rent is $1,550/mo, which leaves a $150/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Missoula?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in Montana works roughly 47.4 hours a month to cover Missoula's median rent of $1,550.
Where is rent cheaper than Missoula for a police officer?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Helena ($1,491/mo), Helena ($1,490/mo), Helena ($1,490/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.