Before you decide to relocate to Montana, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Montana that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 17 places in Montana with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Montana for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
What’s the most expensive place to live in Montana? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Whitefish is the most expensive place to live in Montana.
Lewistown (the cheapest place to live in Montana) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Montana and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Montana For 2024
/10
Population: 8,098
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $69,919
Average Home Price: $817,427
Home Price To Income Ratio: 11.7x
More on Whitefish: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Whitefish is 117. The median income in Whitefish comes in at $69,919 and the average home value is $817,427 for 2024.
/10
Population: 53,500
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $74,113
Average Home Price: $712,076
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.6x
More on Bozeman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Bozeman is 114. The median income in Bozeman comes in at $74,113 and the average home value is $712,076 for 2024.
/10
Population: 117,093
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $69,692
Average Home Price: $376,105
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Billings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Billings is 107. The median income in Billings comes in at $69,692 and the average home value is $376,105 for 2024.
/10
Population: 10,941
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $82,769
Average Home Price: $540,043
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x
More on Belgrade: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Belgrade is 105. The median income in Belgrade comes in at $82,769 and the average home value is $540,043 for 2024.
/10
Population: 8,489
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $62,893
Average Home Price: $526,321
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.4x
More on Livingston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Livingston is 103. The median income in Livingston comes in at $62,893 and the average home value is $526,321 for 2024.
/10
Population: 25,473
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $57,123
Average Home Price: $528,069
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.2x
More on Kalispell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Kalispell is 102. The median income in Kalispell comes in at $57,123 and the average home value is $528,069 for 2024.
/10
Population: 6,257
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $56,696
Average Home Price: $299,126
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.3x
More on Sidney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Sidney is 102. The median income in Sidney comes in at $56,696 and the average home value is $299,126 for 2024.
/10
Population: 74,627
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $59,783
Average Home Price: $532,392
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.9x
More on Missoula: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Missoula is 98. The median income in Missoula comes in at $59,783 and the average home value is $532,392 for 2024.
/10
Population: 7,181
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $62,250
Average Home Price: $376,373
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.0x
More on Laurel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Laurel is 98. The median income in Laurel comes in at $62,250 and the average home value is $376,373 for 2024.
/10
Population: 32,529
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $64,798
Average Home Price: $445,702
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.9x
More on Helena: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Helena is 95. The median income in Helena comes in at $64,798 and the average home value is $445,702 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Treasure State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Montana are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Montana to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 17 places in Montana that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Montana according to the data is Whitefish. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Montana.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Montana For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Montana that have the highest cost of living, with Whitefish ranking as the most expensive city in the Treasure State.
The most expensive cities in Montana are Whitefish, Bozeman, Billings, Belgrade, Livingston, Kalispell, Sidney, Missoula, Laurel, and Helena.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Montana according to the data:
- Lewistown
- Havre
- Miles City
For more Montana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Montana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Montana
- Most Dangerous Cities In Montana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Montana
- Safest Places In Montana
- Worst Places To Live In Montana
Most Expensive Cities In Montana
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitefish | 117 | 8,098 | $69,919 | $817,427 | 11.7x |
| 2 | Bozeman | 114 | 53,500 | $74,113 | $712,076 | 9.6x |
| 3 | Billings | 107 | 117,093 | $69,692 | $376,105 | 5.4x |
| 4 | Belgrade | 105 | 10,941 | $82,769 | $540,043 | 6.5x |
| 5 | Livingston | 103 | 8,489 | $62,893 | $526,321 | 8.4x |
| 6 | Kalispell | 102 | 25,473 | $57,123 | $528,069 | 9.2x |
| 7 | Sidney | 102 | 6,257 | $56,696 | $299,126 | 5.3x |
| 8 | Missoula | 98 | 74,627 | $59,783 | $532,392 | 8.9x |
| 9 | Laurel | 98 | 7,181 | $62,250 | $376,373 | 6.0x |
| 10 | Helena | 95 | 32,529 | $64,798 | $445,702 | 6.9x |
| 11 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | 94 | 9,435 | $46,436 | $257,384 | 5.5x |
| 12 | Polson | 93 | 5,218 | $48,866 | $544,825 | 11.1x |
| 13 | Columbia Falls | 92 | 5,435 | $64,500 | $569,087 | 8.8x |
| 14 | Great Falls | 91 | 60,373 | $58,272 | $305,613 | 5.2x |
| 15 | Miles City | 91 | 8,432 | $59,578 | $262,923 | 4.4x |
| 16 | Havre | 88 | 9,332 | $63,143 | $253,078 | 4.0x |
| 17 | Lewistown | 83 | 5,988 | $40,705 | $251,367 | 6.2x |