Montana Cost of Living by County

Compare annual cost of living, median household income, affordability, and major expense drivers across Montana counties. These estimates are based on a single adult household with no children. Cost rank for each county in Montana are rated from highest modeled total costs to lowest.

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Counties tracked:

56Across Montana

Median Household Income:

$80,276In Montana

Median Annual Cost:

$51,262Across Montana

Most Expensive County:

Gallatin County, MT $62,945

Lowest modeled cost county:

Phillips County, MT$45,450

State National Rank

#13Most expensive state across the U.S.Out of 50 states plus D.C.

Beaverhead County, MT

Cost Rank: 52 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,953

Median Household Income:

$77,135

Cost / Income ratio :

62.2%

Housing19%
Food9%
Transport30%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,405

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Big Horn County, MT

Cost Rank: 23 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,605

Median Household Income:

$64,275

Cost / Income ratio :

81.8%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,223

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Blaine County, MT

Cost Rank: 44 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,270

Median Household Income:

$79,676

Cost / Income ratio :

61.8%

Housing20%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,219

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Broadwater County, MT

Cost Rank: 2 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$62,124

Median Household Income:

$80,551

Cost / Income ratio :

77.1%

Housing24%
Food7%
Transport26%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs10%
Taxes23%

Biggest category: Transport$15,983

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Carbon County, MT

Cost Rank: 48 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,469

Median Household Income:

$89,542

Cost / Income ratio :

54.1%

Housing21%
Food9%
Transport32%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,611

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Carter County, MT

Cost Rank: 27 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,761

Median Household Income:

$63,924

Cost / Income ratio :

81.0%

Housing20%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,158

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Cascade County, MT

Cost Rank: 54 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$46,679

Median Household Income:

$84,338

Cost / Income ratio :

55.3%

Housing23%
Food9%
Transport26%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,261

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Chouteau County, MT

Cost Rank: 24 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,228

Median Household Income:

$82,725

Cost / Income ratio :

63.1%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport28%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,673

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Custer County, MT

Cost Rank: 19 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,227

Median Household Income:

$90,000

Cost / Income ratio :

59.1%

Housing24%
Food8%
Transport25%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$13,311

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Daniels County, MT

Cost Rank: 51 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,097

Median Household Income:

$86,023

Cost / Income ratio :

55.9%

Housing18%
Food9%
Transport31%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,818

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Dawson County, MT

Cost Rank: 36 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,052

Median Household Income:

$84,806

Cost / Income ratio :

59.0%

Housing21%
Food9%
Transport28%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,794

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Deer Lodge County, MT

Cost Rank: 55 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$46,036

Median Household Income:

$70,200

Cost / Income ratio :

65.6%

Housing20%
Food9%
Transport27%
Healthcare15%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,544

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Fallon County, MT

Cost Rank: 14 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,893

Median Household Income:

$115,735

Cost / Income ratio :

46.6%

Housing22%
Food8%
Transport28%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,962

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Fergus County, MT

Cost Rank: 17 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,256

Median Household Income:

$83,538

Cost / Income ratio :

63.8%

Housing23%
Food8%
Transport27%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,187

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Flathead County, MT

Cost Rank: 11 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,794

Median Household Income:

$87,536

Cost / Income ratio :

63.7%

Housing26%
Food8%
Transport25%
Healthcare10%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$14,424

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Gallatin County, MT

Cost Rank: 1 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$62,945

Median Household Income:

$111,714

Cost / Income ratio :

56.3%

Housing28%
Food8%
Transport22%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs11%
Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$17,376

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Garfield County, MT

Cost Rank: 32 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,671

Median Household Income:

$77,083

Cost / Income ratio :

65.7%

Housing18%
Food8%
Transport32%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$16,084

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Glacier County, MT

Cost Rank: 30 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,011

Median Household Income:

$55,789

Cost / Income ratio :

91.4%

Housing22%
Food9%
Transport26%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,510

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Golden Valley County, MT

Cost Rank: 12 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,506

Median Household Income:

$69,444

Cost / Income ratio :

79.9%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport30%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$16,829

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Granite County, MT

Cost Rank: 38 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,781

Median Household Income:

$72,596

Cost / Income ratio :

68.6%

Housing18%
Food9%
Transport31%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,421

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Hill County, MT

Cost Rank: 41 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,505

Median Household Income:

$76,083

Cost / Income ratio :

65.1%

Housing23%
Food8%
Transport26%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,007

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Jefferson County, MT

Cost Rank: 15 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,847

Median Household Income:

$97,578

Cost / Income ratio :

55.2%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,706

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Judith Basin County, MT

Cost Rank: 28 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,414

Median Household Income:

$82,500

Cost / Income ratio :

62.3%

Housing19%
Food8%
Transport31%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,710

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Lake County, MT

Cost Rank: 20 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,847

Median Household Income:

$76,688

Cost / Income ratio :

68.9%

Housing24%
Food8%
Transport27%
Healthcare10%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,363

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Lewis and Clark County, MT

Cost Rank: 22 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,708

Median Household Income:

$99,043

Cost / Income ratio :

53.2%

Housing25%
Food8%
Transport25%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$13,245

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Liberty County, MT

Cost Rank: 49 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,395

Median Household Income:

$60,833

Cost / Income ratio :

79.6%

Housing18%
Food9%
Transport31%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,244

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Lincoln County, MT

Cost Rank: 46 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,045

Median Household Income:

$61,328

Cost / Income ratio :

80.0%

Housing20%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,301

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Madison County, MT

Cost Rank: 3 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$59,691

Median Household Income:

$80,000

Cost / Income ratio :

74.6%

Housing23%
Food8%
Transport27%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs10%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,839

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

McCone County, MT

Cost Rank: 5 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,658

Median Household Income:

$88,882

Cost / Income ratio :

64.9%

Housing23%
Food8%
Transport27%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs9%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,706

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Meagher County, MT

Cost Rank: 9 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,605

Median Household Income:

$73,500

Cost / Income ratio :

77.0%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport30%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$16,709

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Mineral County, MT

Cost Rank: 16 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,364

Median Household Income:

$70,800

Cost / Income ratio :

75.4%

Housing22%
Food8%
Transport28%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,999

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Missoula County, MT

Cost Rank: 26 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,942

Median Household Income:

$96,619

Cost / Income ratio :

53.8%

Housing26%
Food9%
Transport24%
Healthcare10%
Other Costs11%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$13,452

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Musselshell County, MT

Cost Rank: 45 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,231

Median Household Income:

$67,021

Cost / Income ratio :

73.5%

Housing23%
Food9%
Transport29%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,118

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Park County, MT

Cost Rank: 13 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$54,397

Median Household Income:

$93,125

Cost / Income ratio :

58.4%

Housing24%
Food9%
Transport25%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$13,521

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Petroleum County, MT

Cost Rank: 8 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,464

Median Household Income:

$78,750

Cost / Income ratio :

73.0%

Housing23%
Food7%
Transport27%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs9%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,789

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Phillips County, MT

Cost Rank: 56 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$45,450

Median Household Income:

$75,532

Cost / Income ratio :

60.2%

Housing18%
Food9%
Transport30%
Healthcare14%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,748

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Pondera County, MT

Cost Rank: 31 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,817

Median Household Income:

$73,920

Cost / Income ratio :

68.7%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,568

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Powder River County, MT

Cost Rank: 39 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,739

Median Household Income:

$98,958

Cost / Income ratio :

50.3%

Housing18%
Food8%
Transport33%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$16,233

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Powell County, MT

Cost Rank: 53 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,459

Median Household Income:

$70,764

Cost / Income ratio :

67.1%

Housing20%
Food9%
Transport28%
Healthcare14%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,350

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Prairie County, MT

Cost Rank: 6 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,634

Median Household Income:

$69,545

Cost / Income ratio :

82.9%

Housing23%
Food7%
Transport27%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs9%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,796

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Ravalli County, MT

Cost Rank: 10 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,011

Median Household Income:

$86,256

Cost / Income ratio :

64.9%

Housing23%
Food8%
Transport26%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs10%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,461

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Richland County, MT

Cost Rank: 21 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,779

Median Household Income:

$87,353

Cost / Income ratio :

60.4%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport29%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,045

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Roosevelt County, MT

Cost Rank: 33 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,564

Median Household Income:

$65,000

Cost / Income ratio :

77.8%

Housing20%
Food9%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,740

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Rosebud County, MT

Cost Rank: 35 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,146

Median Household Income:

$66,771

Cost / Income ratio :

75.1%

Housing20%
Food9%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,588

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Sanders County, MT

Cost Rank: 37 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,840

Median Household Income:

$65,365

Cost / Income ratio :

76.2%

Housing20%
Food9%
Transport30%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,724

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Sheridan County, MT

Cost Rank: 25 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,077

Median Household Income:

$91,154

Cost / Income ratio :

57.1%

Housing20%
Food8%
Transport30%
Healthcare12%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,646

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Silver Bow County, MT

Cost Rank: 43 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,293

Median Household Income:

$78,288

Cost / Income ratio :

63.0%

Housing23%
Food9%
Transport25%
Healthcare14%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,177

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Stillwater County, MT

Cost Rank: 40 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,731

Median Household Income:

$101,688

Cost / Income ratio :

48.9%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport32%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,842

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Sweet Grass County, MT

Cost Rank: 50 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,326

Median Household Income:

$88,287

Cost / Income ratio :

54.7%

Housing21%
Food10%
Transport30%
Healthcare10%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,555

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Teton County, MT

Cost Rank: 18 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,230

Median Household Income:

$82,873

Cost / Income ratio :

64.2%

Housing22%
Food8%
Transport28%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,810

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Toole County, MT

Cost Rank: 42 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,444

Median Household Income:

$78,750

Cost / Income ratio :

62.8%

Housing21%
Food8%
Transport28%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,812

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Treasure County, MT

Cost Rank: 7 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,574

Median Household Income:

$84,625

Cost / Income ratio :

68.0%

Housing23%
Food7%
Transport28%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs9%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,862

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Valley County, MT

Cost Rank: 34 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,513

Median Household Income:

$87,909

Cost / Income ratio :

57.5%

Housing20%
Food9%
Transport29%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs9%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,625

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Wheatland County, MT

Cost Rank: 29 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,110

Median Household Income:

$62,321

Cost / Income ratio :

82.0%

Housing19%
Food8%
Transport32%
Healthcare13%
Other Costs8%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$16,202

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Wibaux County, MT

Cost Rank: 4 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$58,497

Median Household Income:

$88,438

Cost / Income ratio :

66.1%

Housing23%
Food7%
Transport28%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs9%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Transport$16,359

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

Yellowstone County, MT

Cost Rank: 47 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,644

Median Household Income:

$94,167

Cost / Income ratio :

51.7%

Housing25%
Food9%
Transport26%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs11%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,740

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

View County Breakdown →

* Some counties might be unavailable