Cost of Living in Montana (MT)
Compare costs across 4 Montana cities. From home services to salaries, see how MT stacks up against the national average.
Is Montana Affordable?
Montana's average cost index is 98, which is near the national baseline of 100. Great Falls is the most affordable tracked city in MT at index 88, while Missoula is the most expensive at index 108.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 20 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Montana is near the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Great Falls has a cost index of 88.
Missoula has a cost index of 108.
Average median household income across 4 tracked MT cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Montana
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 120K | 96 | $55K | small |
| Missoula | 74K | 108 | $48K | small |
| Great Falls | 60K | 88 | $48K | small |
| Helena | 32K | 98 | $54K | small |
Montana State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Montana.
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Great Falls if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Montana.
- Compare Missoula against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.
Cost by Category Across Montana
Business Startup Costs
Legal Services
Compare Cities Within Montana
Explore Other States
Popular Montana cost & affordability searches
- → Cost of living in Billings, MT
- → Cost of living in Missoula, MT
- → Cost of living in Great Falls, MT
- → Cost of living in Helena, MT
- → Average rent in Billings, MT
- → Average rent in Missoula, MT
- → Average rent in Great Falls, MT
- → Salary needed to live in Billings
- → Salary needed to live in Missoula
- → Salary needed to live in Great Falls
Frequently Asked Questions: Montana Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Montana?
Montana's average cost-of-living index is 98, which is 2% below the U.S. baseline of 100. Across 4 tracked cities, costs span from index 88 in Great Falls to 108 in Missoula.
What is the cheapest city to live in Montana?
Great Falls is the most affordable tracked city in Montana, with a cost index of 88 — roughly 12% below the national average.
What is the most expensive city in Montana?
Missoula is the most expensive tracked city in Montana, at a cost index of 108. The gap between Great Falls and Missoula is 20 index points, so always budget at the city level.
What is the average household income in Montana?
The average median household income across 4 tracked Montana cities is about $51,214 per year.
Does Montana have a state income tax?
Yes. Montana levies a progressive state income tax at 1-5.9%, which affects your real take-home pay.
How much is sales tax in Montana?
The combined sales tax in Montana averages 0% — 0% at the state level plus 0% in average local tax.