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 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 18 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 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Montana For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Montana? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Bozeman 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 2026
/10
Population: 56,114
Cost Of Living Index: 130
Median Income: $85,747
Average Home Price: $724,089
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.4x
More on Bozeman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bozeman is 130. The median income in Bozeman comes in at $85,747 and the average home value is $724,089 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,749
Cost Of Living Index: 127
Median Income: $73,811
Average Home Price: $864,156
Home Price To Income Ratio: 11.7x
More on Whitefish: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Whitefish is 127. The median income in Whitefish comes in at $73,811 and the average home value is $864,156 for 2026.
/10
Population: 76,514
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $70,392
Average Home Price: $564,622
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.0x
More on Missoula: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Missoula is 115. The median income in Missoula comes in at $70,392 and the average home value is $564,622 for 2026.
/10
Population: 33,639
Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $71,036
Average Home Price: $474,028
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.7x
More on Helena: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Helena is 111. The median income in Helena comes in at $71,036 and the average home value is $474,028 for 2026.
/10
Population: 11,872
Cost Of Living Index: 110
Median Income: $97,328
Average Home Price: $548,236
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.6x
More on Belgrade: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Belgrade is 110. The median income in Belgrade comes in at $97,328 and the average home value is $548,236 for 2026.
/10
Population: 119,434
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $73,712
Average Home Price: $392,208
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.3x
More on Billings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Billings is 107. The median income in Billings comes in at $73,712 and the average home value is $392,208 for 2026.
/10
Population: 28,504
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $63,415
Average Home Price: $552,745
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.7x
More on Kalispell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Kalispell is 107. The median income in Kalispell comes in at $63,415 and the average home value is $552,745 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,780
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $65,861
Average Home Price: $531,830
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.1x
More on Livingston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Livingston is 106. The median income in Livingston comes in at $65,861 and the average home value is $531,830 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,171
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $62,538
Average Home Price: $269,780
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Sidney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Sidney is 102. The median income in Sidney comes in at $62,538 and the average home value is $269,780 for 2026.
/10
Population: 5,615
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $75,766
Average Home Price: $599,165
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.9x
More on Columbia Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Columbia Falls is 102. The median income in Columbia Falls comes in at $75,766 and the average home value is $599,165 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Treasure State For 2026
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 2020-2024 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 18 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 Bozeman. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Montana.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Montana For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Montana that have the highest cost of living, with Bozeman ranking as the most expensive city in the Treasure State.
The most expensive cities in Montana are Bozeman, Whitefish, Missoula, Helena, Belgrade, Billings, Kalispell, Livingston, Sidney, and Columbia Falls.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Montana according to the data:
- Lewistown
- Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
- Laurel
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 | Bozeman | 130 | 56,114 | $85,747 | $724,089 | 8.4x |
| 2 | Whitefish | 127 | 8,749 | $73,811 | $864,156 | 11.7x |
| 3 | Missoula | 115 | 76,514 | $70,392 | $564,622 | 8.0x |
| 4 | Helena | 111 | 33,639 | $71,036 | $474,028 | 6.7x |
| 5 | Belgrade | 110 | 11,872 | $97,328 | $548,236 | 5.6x |
| 6 | Billings | 107 | 119,434 | $73,712 | $392,208 | 5.3x |
| 7 | Kalispell | 107 | 28,504 | $63,415 | $552,745 | 8.7x |
| 8 | Livingston | 106 | 8,780 | $65,861 | $531,830 | 8.1x |
| 9 | Sidney | 102 | 6,171 | $62,538 | $269,780 | 4.3x |
| 10 | Columbia Falls | 102 | 5,615 | $75,766 | $599,165 | 7.9x |
| 11 | Hamilton | 101 | 5,101 | $49,204 | $526,561 | 10.7x |
| 12 | Miles City | 100 | 8,407 | $67,727 | $243,450 | 3.6x |
| 13 | Havre | 99 | 9,258 | $50,329 | $232,554 | 4.6x |
| 14 | Polson | 99 | 5,428 | $53,418 | $560,670 | 10.5x |
| 15 | Great Falls | 98 | 60,329 | $63,373 | $334,707 | 5.3x |
| 16 | Laurel | 97 | 7,215 | $68,474 | $374,156 | 5.5x |
| 17 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | 89 | 9,597 | $57,527 | $287,878 | 5.0x |
| 18 | Lewistown | 89 | 6,087 | $48,750 | $296,569 | 6.1x |