Cost of living in Montana
Prices in Montana are 5.4% below the US average (30th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,877 in state income tax. State sales tax: 0%.
Price levels in Montana
| BEA RPP 2024 | Montana | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.6 | −5.4% |
| Goods | 96.0 | −4.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 84.6 | −15.4% |
| Utilities | 72.3 | −27.7% |
| Other services | 98.7 | −1.3% |
Metros in Montana
Metros whose principal city is in Montana. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 193,603 | 93.5 | $1,432 | $227 | $1,322 |
| Bozeman, MT | 128,740 | 102.5 | $2,109 | $237 | $842 |
| Missoula, MT | 128,698 | 96.4 | $1,690 | $219 | $1,021 |
| Helena, MT | 97,153 | 95.7 | $1,653 | $216 | $1,134 |
| Great Falls, MT | 85,029 | 96.8 | $1,308 | $220 | $1,454 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Montana (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Montana income tax | $1,593 | $2,877 | $5,419 | $4,127 |
| Montana payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,397 | $4,893 | $7,319 | $8,421 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Montana’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,877 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Montana
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $218 | $13,861 | $174 |
| Toddler (2) | $227 | $14,420 | $177 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $195 | $12,379 | $177 |
| School-age (5–12) | $195 | $12,379 | $164 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $197 a week in Daniels County to $254 in Treasure County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 56 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula County | $472,100 | $4,150 | 0.88% |
| Cascade County | $265,300 | $2,320 | 0.87% |
| Yellowstone County | $349,500 | $2,832 | 0.81% |
| Lewis and Clark County | $393,500 | $3,113 | 0.79% |
| Gallatin County | $667,600 | $3,933 | 0.59% |
| Stillwater County | $405,800 | $2,319 | 0.57% |
| Broadwater County | $426,600 | $2,384 | 0.56% |
| Jefferson County | $446,900 | $2,446 | 0.55% |
| Carbon County | $420,800 | $2,281 | 0.54% |
| Mineral County | $364,300 | $1,758 | 0.48% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Montana
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 35,735 in, 34,901 out (net +834).
- California4,872 ±1,563
- Washington3,631 ±1,556
- Colorado3,002 ±1,368
- Arizona2,330 ±1,157
- Texas2,147 ±910
- Alaska1,767 ±1,621
- Oregon1,606 ±1,198
- Minnesota1,435 ±817
- Washington6,291 ±2,249
- Arizona4,304 ±2,162
- Oregon2,783 ±1,497
- California2,531 ±925
- Idaho2,214 ±1,018
- North Dakota1,556 ±1,131
- New Mexico1,419 ±1,480
- Texas1,190 ±647
Frequently asked questions
Is Montana expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Montana’s overall price level at 94.6 in 2024 (US = 100), the 30th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 84.6 and goods 96.0.
Does Montana have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,877 in Montana income tax under 2026 law (3.8% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Montana?+
The state rate is 0% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Montana?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Great Falls, MT leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,454), and Bozeman, MT the least ($842).