Montana Cost of Living Calculator 2026
Compare cost of living in Montana to other US states and cities. See equivalent salary needed when relocating.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated October 19, 2026 · Methodology
Equivalent Salary Needed
$87,387.39
Difference
-$12,612.61
Cost Difference
-12.61%
Cost of Living Comparison
| Austin, TX Index | 111 |
| Billings, MT Index | 97 |
| National Average | 100 |
| Your Current Salary | $100,000.00 |
| Equivalent in Billings, MT | $87,387.39 |
| You would need less | $12,612.61 |
Breakdown by Category (Annual)
| Housing | -20.00% |
| Current (Austin, TX) | $40,000.00 |
| Target (Billings, MT) | $32,000.00 |
| Food & Groceries | +2.00% |
| Current (Austin, TX) | $15,000.00 |
| Target (Billings, MT) | $15,300.00 |
| Transportation | +4.00% |
| Current (Austin, TX) | $15,000.00 |
| Target (Billings, MT) | $15,600.00 |
| Healthcare | +0.95% |
| Current (Austin, TX) | $10,000.00 |
| Target (Billings, MT) | $10,095.24 |
Cost of living indices are approximate and based on aggregate data. Individual expenses may vary significantly. Housing costs tend to have the largest impact when moving between cities.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.
Montana Cost of Living Overview
Understanding the cost of living in Montana means looking at taxes, housing, and everyday expenses together. Montana levies a progressive income tax, which directly impacts take-home pay. The average property tax rate is 0.59%, and the state sales tax rate is 0.00%.
Montana's tax mix is a defining feature of any household budget here. There's no general sales tax, so day-to-day spending on groceries, clothing, and goods stretches further than in most states. Property taxes are relatively light too, averaging about 0.59% of home value against a national norm near 0.9%. The trade-off is a state income tax that reaches up to 5.65%, so more of the tax burden shows up on your paycheck and less at the register.
Housing is where Montana budgets diverge most sharply by location. Resort and college towns like Bozeman, Whitefish, and Missoula carry housing costs far above rural communities and the eastern plains, even though they share the same state tax rules. When comparing a salary offer between two Montana cities, or against a job out of state, the most useful approach is to net out income tax, then weigh local rent or mortgage costs, since those two factors swing real purchasing power more than groceries or sales tax ever could in a no-sales-tax state.
Montana Cost Snapshot (2026)
| Avg. Property Tax Rate | 0.59% |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 0.00% |
| Minimum Wage | $10.85/hr |
| State Income Tax | Progressive (up to 5.65%) |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI) | No |
| Estate / Inheritance Tax | No |
| Local/City Taxes | No general local sales tax, but resort communities (e.g. Big Sky, Whitefish, West Yellowstone) levy a local resort tax of up to 4% on certain goods and services. |
City indexes (U.S. average = 100) are planning estimates on one scale. The 29 cities added in August 2026 were reconciled from BestPlaces city pages, the Payscale and RentCafe cost-of-living calculators (both built on the C2ER Cost of Living Index) and the MERIC state index for Q1 2026; the original 30 large metros date from April 2026 and have not been re-checked since. Local rents and home prices can differ a lot within a metro, and the equivalent salary does not account for income taxes.
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