What is the cost of living in Great Falls, MT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Great Falls has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Montana, Great Falls has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Montana's index of 102.
The standard of living in Great Falls ranks as #4 most affordable out of the 26 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Great Falls ranks as the #22 most expensive place in the Treasure State.
For more reading on life in Great Falls, check out:
Great Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Montana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Great Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Great Falls is 105.
The Groceries index in Great Falls is 103.
The Health index in Great Falls is 94.
The Housing index in Great Falls is 102.
The Transportation index in Great Falls is 104.
The Utilities index in Great Falls is 103.
| Living Expense | Great Falls | Montana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 102 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 94 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 100 | 100 |
Great 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 Great Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Great 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 Great Falls is $334,707.
The Median Rent in Great Falls is $900.
The Median Income in Great Falls is $63,373.
The Home Value To Income in Great Falls is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Great Falls is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Great Falls | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $334,707 | $466,916 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $900 | $1,081 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,373 | $72,509 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.3x | 6.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Great Falls, MT Costs By Category
Detailed Great Falls Services costs vs. Montana
| Item | Great 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 Great Falls Groceries costs vs. Montana
| Item | Great 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 Great Falls Health costs vs. Montana
| Item | Great Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $112.63 | $113.29 |
Detailed Great Falls Transportation costs vs. Montana
| Item | Great Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Great Falls Utilities costs vs. Montana
| Item | Great Falls | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $176.82 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.36 | $192.25 |
