Cost of Living in Montana
Based on 3 cities we track in Montana.
Cost of living in Montana is shaped mostly by rent across the 3 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $953 a month — 11% lower than the $1,076 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $71,855, 9% higher than the $66,029 median across the states we track. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$953
Median Home Value
$427,400
Median Income
$71,855
Avg Temperature
45.9°F
Medians across the Montana cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
None
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 5.65%
Cities in Montana
Compare Montana with
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Montana cost of living — FAQ
- Is Montana expensive to live in?
- Montana is around the middle of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $953 ranks #31 of 51 and is 11% lower than the $1,076 median.
- What is the average rent in Montana?
- Across the 3 cities we track in Montana, average rent runs a studio around $877, a one-bedroom around $953, a two-bedroom around $1,176, a three-bedroom around $1,676 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Montana?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Montana is $427,400 — 58% higher than the $270,100 median across the states we track.
- Does Montana have a state income tax?
- Yes — Montana's top state income tax rate is 5.65% (most filers pay less than the top rate). It also has no state sales tax.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Montana?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $953 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Montana is $71,855.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).