What it actually costs to live in Montana.
Montana’s cost-of-living index sits at 104 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #23 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Montana costs about 4% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $475,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,150/mo.
Montana cost components
| Component | Montana | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 104 | 100 |
| Median home price | $475,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,150/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $135/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Montana compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Montana ranks #23 for cost. That places Montana in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Montana metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Billings has very different housing dynamics than smaller Montana metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
More Montana metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Montana cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Montana?
Montana's MERIC cost-of-living index is 104 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Montana costs about 4% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Montana?
Montana's state-level median home price is approximately $475,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Montana?
Montana's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,150/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Montana-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Bozeman/Big Sky/Whitefish home prices have tripled since 2018 due to remote-worker and second-home in-migration; locals priced out of historically affordable mountain towns.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.