Montana Cost of Living 2026

The cost of living in Montana (MT) has an overall index of 96.2 (100 = national average), making it moderately more affordable than the national average. Use the calculator below to compare Montana to any other state and see how far your dollar goes.

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Montana Cost of Living Breakdown

Here is how Montana compares to the national average across major spending categories. An index above 100 means the category is more expensive than average, while below 100 means it is more affordable.

CategoryMontanaNational AvgDifference
Overall96.2100.0-3.8
Housing95.6100.0-4.4
Groceries97.4100.0-2.6
Transportation96.8100.0-3.2
Healthcare98.4100.0-1.6
Utilities86.4100.0-13.6

Key Takeaways for Montana

  • Housing (95.6): Housing costs are slightly below the national average, making Montana a moderately affordable option for homebuyers and renters.
  • Groceries (97.4): Grocery prices are close to the national average with minimal impact on your budget.
  • Transportation (96.8): Transportation costs are near the national average.
  • Healthcare (98.4): Healthcare costs are near the national average.
  • Utilities (86.4): Utility costs are below the national average, helping to keep monthly expenses manageable.

Biggest Factor in Montana

The most expensive category in Montana relative to national averages is Healthcare at an index of 98.4, while the most affordable is Utilities at 86.4.

Cost of Living by ZIP Code in Montana

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