What is the cost of living in Helena, MT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Helena has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Montana, Helena has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Montana's index of 102.
The standard of living in Helena ranks as #19 most affordable out of the 26 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Helena ranks as the #7 most expensive place in the Treasure State.
For more reading on life in Helena, check out:
Helena Cost Of Living Vs. Montana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Helena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Helena is 102.
The Groceries index in Helena is 99.
The Health index in Helena is 129.
The Housing index in Helena is 103.
The Transportation index in Helena is 103.
The Utilities index in Helena is 102.
| Living Expense | Helena | Montana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 102 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 129 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 100 | 100 |
Helena 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 Helena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Helena, 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 Helena is $474,028.
The Median Rent in Helena is $1,092.
The Median Income in Helena is $71,036.
The Home Value To Income in Helena is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Helena is 0.18x.
Helena, MT Costs By Category
Detailed Helena Services costs vs. Montana
Detailed Helena Groceries costs vs. Montana
Detailed Helena Health costs vs. Montana
Detailed Helena Transportation costs vs. Montana
Helena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Helena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Helena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Helena Valley Southeast, MT has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Helena.
Helena Valley West Central, MT has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Helena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Helena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena Valley Southeast, MT | 9,108 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Helena Valley West Central, MT | 8,056 | 112 | 1.0x |
