What is the cost of living in Columbia Falls, MT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbia Falls has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Montana, Columbia Falls has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Montana's index of 102.
The standard of living in Columbia Falls ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 26 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Columbia Falls ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Treasure State.
For more reading on life in Columbia Falls, check out:
Columbia Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Montana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Columbia Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Columbia Falls is 106.
The Groceries index in Columbia Falls is 105.
The Health index in Columbia Falls is 111.
The Housing index in Columbia Falls is 99.
The Transportation index in Columbia Falls is 103.
The Utilities index in Columbia Falls is 104.
| Living Expense | Columbia Falls | Montana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 100 | 100 |
Columbia Falls Cost Of Living Compared To Montana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Montana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Columbia Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Columbia Falls, MT Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Montana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Columbia Falls is $599,165.
The Median Rent in Columbia Falls is $1,016.
The Median Income in Columbia Falls is $75,766.
The Home Value To Income in Columbia Falls is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbia Falls is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Columbia Falls | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $599,165 | $466,916 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,016 | $1,081 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $75,766 | $72,509 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 6.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Columbia Falls, MT Costs By Category
Detailed Columbia Falls Services costs vs. Montana
| Item | Columbia Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.16 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $15.71 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.87 | $45.56 |
Detailed Columbia Falls Groceries costs vs. Montana
| Item | Columbia Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.31 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.61 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.03 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.57 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.19 | $3.7 |
Detailed Columbia Falls Health costs vs. Montana
| Item | Columbia Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $112.63 | $113.29 |
Detailed Columbia Falls Transportation costs vs. Montana
| Item | Columbia Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Columbia Falls Utilities costs vs. Montana
| Item | Columbia Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $176.82 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.36 | $192.25 |
Columbia Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Columbia Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Columbia Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kalispell, MT has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x Columbia Falls.
Forest Hill, TX has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Columbia Falls.
Evergreen, MT has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Columbia Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbia Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalispell, MT | 28,504 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Forest Hill, TX | 14,062 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Evergreen, MT | 9,611 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Whitefish, MT | 8,749 | 127 | 1.2x |
