What is the cost of living in Helena Valley West Central, MT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Helena Valley West Central has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Montana, Helena Valley West Central has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Montana's index of 102.
The standard of living in Helena Valley West Central ranks as #20 most affordable out of the 26 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Helena Valley West Central ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Treasure State.
For more reading on life in Helena Valley West Central, check out:
Helena Valley West Central Cost Of Living Vs. Montana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Helena Valley West Central. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Helena Valley West Central is 102.
The Groceries index in Helena Valley West Central is 103.
The Health index in Helena Valley West Central is 138.
The Housing index in Helena Valley West Central is 100.
The Transportation index in Helena Valley West Central is 103.
The Utilities index in Helena Valley West Central is 99.
| Living Expense | Helena Valley West Central | Montana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 102 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 138 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 100 | 100 |
Helena Valley West Central 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 Valley West Central Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Helena Valley West Central, 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 Valley West Central is $456,231.
The Median Rent in Helena Valley West Central is $1,327.
The Median Income in Helena Valley West Central is $90,082.
The Home Value To Income in Helena Valley West Central is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Helena Valley West Central is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Helena Valley West Central | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $456,231 | $466,916 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,327 | $1,081 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,082 | $72,509 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 6.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Helena Valley West Central, MT Costs By Category
Detailed Helena Valley West Central Services costs vs. Montana
| Item | Helena Valley West Central | 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 Helena Valley West Central Groceries costs vs. Montana
| Item | Helena Valley West Central | 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 Helena Valley West Central Health costs vs. Montana
| Item | Helena Valley West Central | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $112.63 | $113.29 |
Detailed Helena Valley West Central Transportation costs vs. Montana
| Item | Helena Valley West Central | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Helena Valley West Central Utilities costs vs. Montana
| Item | Helena Valley West Central | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $176.82 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.36 | $192.25 |
Helena Valley West Central SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Helena Valley West Central
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Helena Valley West Central. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Helena, MT has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Helena Valley West Central.
Helena Valley Southeast, MT has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Helena Valley West Central.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Helena Valley West Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | 33,639 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Helena Valley Southeast, MT | 9,108 | 106 | 0.9x |
