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 2019-2023 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 2025.
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 2025
/10
Population: 8,422
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $71,110
Average Home Price: $648,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.1x
More on Whitefish: Data
The overall cost of living in Whitefish is 117. The median income in Whitefish comes in at $71,110 and the average home value is $648,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 55,042
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $79,903
Average Home Price: $614,900
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.7x
More on Bozeman: Data
The overall cost of living in Bozeman is 114. The median income in Bozeman comes in at $79,903 and the average home value is $614,900 for 2025.
/10
Population: 118,321
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $71,855
Average Home Price: $311,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Billings: Data
The overall cost of living in Billings is 107. The median income in Billings comes in at $71,855 and the average home value is $311,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 11,425
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $88,896
Average Home Price: $469,600
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.3x
More on Belgrade: Data
The overall cost of living in Belgrade is 105. The median income in Belgrade comes in at $88,896 and the average home value is $469,600 for 2025.
/10
Population: 8,635
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $65,187
Average Home Price: $348,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.3x
More on Livingston: Data
The overall cost of living in Livingston is 103. The median income in Livingston comes in at $65,187 and the average home value is $348,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 26,830
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $61,590
Average Home Price: $381,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.2x
More on Kalispell: Data
The overall cost of living in Kalispell is 102. The median income in Kalispell comes in at $61,590 and the average home value is $381,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 6,235
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $62,992
Average Home Price: $249,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Sidney: Data
The overall cost of living in Sidney is 102. The median income in Sidney comes in at $62,992 and the average home value is $249,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 75,600
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $65,329
Average Home Price: $427,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x
More on Missoula: Data
The overall cost of living in Missoula is 98. The median income in Missoula comes in at $65,329 and the average home value is $427,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 7,198
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $66,382
Average Home Price: $232,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Laurel: Data
The overall cost of living in Laurel is 98. The median income in Laurel comes in at $66,382 and the average home value is $232,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 33,126
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $69,341
Average Home Price: $355,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.1x
More on Helena: Data
The overall cost of living in Helena is 95. The median income in Helena comes in at $69,341 and the average home value is $355,100 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Treasure State For 2025
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 2019-2023 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 2025. 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 2025
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 | 8,422 | $71,110 | $648,200 | 9.1x |
| 2 | Bozeman | 114 | 55,042 | $79,903 | $614,900 | 7.7x |
| 3 | Billings | 107 | 118,321 | $71,855 | $311,800 | 4.3x |
| 4 | Belgrade | 105 | 11,425 | $88,896 | $469,600 | 5.3x |
| 5 | Livingston | 103 | 8,635 | $65,187 | $348,700 | 5.3x |
| 6 | Kalispell | 102 | 26,830 | $61,590 | $381,400 | 6.2x |
| 7 | Sidney | 102 | 6,235 | $62,992 | $249,100 | 4.0x |
| 8 | Missoula | 98 | 75,600 | $65,329 | $427,400 | 6.5x |
| 9 | Laurel | 98 | 7,198 | $66,382 | $232,700 | 3.5x |
| 10 | Helena | 95 | 33,126 | $69,341 | $355,100 | 5.1x |
| 11 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | 94 | 9,512 | $49,533 | $209,700 | 4.2x |
| 12 | Polson | 93 | 5,334 | $51,463 | $321,000 | 6.2x |
| 13 | Columbia Falls | 92 | 5,531 | $65,313 | $346,700 | 5.3x |
| 14 | Great Falls | 91 | 60,412 | $63,934 | $237,400 | 3.7x |
| 15 | Miles City | 91 | 8,412 | $60,732 | $182,700 | 3.0x |
| 16 | Havre | 88 | 9,333 | $58,000 | $197,600 | 3.4x |
| 17 | Lewistown | 83 | 6,028 | $44,195 | $159,500 | 3.6x |