Cost of Living for Montana (2026)
Montana (MT) Key Facts
Cost of Living Index
102
National Average Index
100
Median Household Income
$60,000
Approximate Median Rent (1 B R)
$1,000/month
State Income Tax Rate
6.75%
How This Calculator Works in Montana
This cost of living calculator helps you compare salaries between Montana and other states or cities by adjusting for purchasing power differences. Enter a salary and a target location to see what equivalent income you would need. It uses Montana's cost of living index of 102 relative to the national average of 100 to provide an accurate comparison.
Montana Overview
Montana has a cost of living index of 102, where 100 represents the national average. Montana's cost of living has risen in popular towns like Bozeman, Missoula, and Whitefish due to remote workers and retirees. Rural Montana remains affordable. The median household income is $60,000, which has a purchasing power equivalent of approximately $58,824 in an average-cost location.
How Montana Compares
Montana's cost of living index of 102 compares to North Dakota's 94 and South Dakota's 92. Residents in Montana generally need higher incomes to maintain the same standard of living as those in more affordable states. The most affordable states like Mississippi (84) cost roughly 21% less than Montana, while the most expensive like Hawaii (192) cost 88% more.
| State | Top Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | COL Index: 94 | North Dakota has a cost of living index of 94 and a median household income of $65,000. It is more affordable than Montana. |
| South Dakota | COL Index: 92 | South Dakota has a cost of living index of 92 and a median household income of $63,000. It is more affordable than Montana. |
| Wyoming | COL Index: 96 | Wyoming has a cost of living index of 96 and a median household income of $68,000. It is more affordable than Montana. |
The national average cost of living index is 100. Montana's index of 102 is near the national average. States like Mississippi (84) and West Virginia (84) have the lowest cost of living, while Hawaii (192) and DC (148) have the highest. Montana's median household income of $60,000 should be evaluated alongside its cost of living to understand real purchasing power.
Tips for Montana Residents
- 1Montana's cost of living has risen in popular towns like Bozeman, Missoula, and Whitefish due to remote workers and retirees. Rural Montana remains affordable.
- 2Montana's median household income of $60,000 has a real purchasing power of about $58,824 when adjusted to the national average. Compare this figure, not the raw salary, when evaluating cross-state moves or job offers.
- 3Montana's top state income tax rate of 6.75% further reduces purchasing power beyond what the cost of living index alone shows. Factor in taxes when making state-to-state comparisons.
- 4When comparing job offers between states, adjust salaries by the cost of living index. A $60,000 salary in a state with an index of 90 provides more purchasing power than $70,000 in a state with an index above 105.
- 5Look beyond the state average — costs can vary dramatically within Montana between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities. Research the specific city or county where you would live.