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.

Counties tracked:

56Across Montana

Median Household Income:

$80,276In Montana

Median Annual Cost:

$51,262Across Montana

Most Expensive County:

Gallatin County, MT $62,945

Most Affordable 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%

Housing 19%
Food 9%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,405

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,223

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Blaine County, MT

Cost Rank: 44 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,270

Median Household Income:

$79,676

Cost / Income ratio :

61.8%

Housing 20%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,219

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Broadwater County, MT

Cost Rank: 2 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$62,124

Median Household Income:

$80,551

Cost / Income ratio :

77.1%

Housing 24%
Food 7%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Transport$15,983

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Carbon County, MT

Cost Rank: 48 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,469

Median Household Income:

$89,542

Cost / Income ratio :

54.1%

Housing 21%
Food 9%
Transport 32%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,611

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Carter County, MT

Cost Rank: 27 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,761

Median Household Income:

$63,924

Cost / Income ratio :

81.0%

Housing 20%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,158

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Cascade County, MT

Cost Rank: 54 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$46,679

Median Household Income:

$84,338

Cost / Income ratio :

55.3%

Housing 23%
Food 9%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,261

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MT

Chouteau County, MT

Cost Rank: 24 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,228

Median Household Income:

$82,725

Cost / Income ratio :

63.1%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,673

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Custer County, MT

Cost Rank: 19 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,227

Median Household Income:

$90,000

Cost / Income ratio :

59.1%

Housing 24%
Food 8%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$13,311

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Daniels County, MT

Cost Rank: 51 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,097

Median Household Income:

$86,023

Cost / Income ratio :

55.9%

Housing 18%
Food 9%
Transport 31%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,818

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Dawson County, MT

Cost Rank: 36 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,052

Median Household Income:

$84,806

Cost / Income ratio :

59.0%

Housing 21%
Food 9%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,794

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 15%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,544

Cheaper Alternatives:

Fallon County, MT

Cost Rank: 14 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,893

Median Household Income:

$115,735

Cost / Income ratio :

46.6%

Housing 22%
Food 8%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,962

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Fergus County, MT

Cost Rank: 17 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,256

Median Household Income:

$83,538

Cost / Income ratio :

63.8%

Housing 23%
Food 8%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,187

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Flathead County, MT

Cost Rank: 11 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,794

Median Household Income:

$87,536

Cost / Income ratio :

63.7%

Housing 26%
Food 8%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 10%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Housing$14,424

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Gallatin County, MT

Cost Rank: 1 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$62,945

Median Household Income:

$111,714

Cost / Income ratio :

56.3%

Housing 28%
Food 8%
Transport 22%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$17,376

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Garfield County, MT

Cost Rank: 32 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,671

Median Household Income:

$77,083

Cost / Income ratio :

65.7%

Housing 18%
Food 8%
Transport 32%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$16,084

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Glacier County, MT

Cost Rank: 30 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,011

Median Household Income:

$55,789

Cost / Income ratio :

91.4%

Housing 22%
Food 9%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,510

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Golden Valley County, MT

Cost Rank: 12 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,506

Median Household Income:

$69,444

Cost / Income ratio :

79.9%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$16,829

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Granite County, MT

Cost Rank: 38 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,781

Median Household Income:

$72,596

Cost / Income ratio :

68.6%

Housing 18%
Food 9%
Transport 31%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,421

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Hill County, MT

Cost Rank: 41 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,505

Median Household Income:

$76,083

Cost / Income ratio :

65.1%

Housing 23%
Food 8%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,007

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Jefferson County, MT

Cost Rank: 15 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,847

Median Household Income:

$97,578

Cost / Income ratio :

55.2%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,706

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 19%
Food 8%
Transport 31%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,710

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Lake County, MT

Cost Rank: 20 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,847

Median Household Income:

$76,688

Cost / Income ratio :

68.9%

Housing 24%
Food 8%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 10%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,363

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 25%
Food 8%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$13,245

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Liberty County, MT

Cost Rank: 49 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,395

Median Household Income:

$60,833

Cost / Income ratio :

79.6%

Housing 18%
Food 9%
Transport 31%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,244

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Lincoln County, MT

Cost Rank: 46 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,045

Median Household Income:

$61,328

Cost / Income ratio :

80.0%

Housing 20%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,301

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Madison County, MT

Cost Rank: 3 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$59,691

Median Household Income:

$80,000

Cost / Income ratio :

74.6%

Housing 23%
Food 8%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,839

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

McCone County, MT

Cost Rank: 5 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,658

Median Household Income:

$88,882

Cost / Income ratio :

64.9%

Housing 23%
Food 8%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,706

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Meagher County, MT

Cost Rank: 9 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,605

Median Household Income:

$73,500

Cost / Income ratio :

77.0%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$16,709

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Mineral County, MT

Cost Rank: 16 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,364

Median Household Income:

$70,800

Cost / Income ratio :

75.4%

Housing 22%
Food 8%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,999

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Missoula County, MT

Cost Rank: 26 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,942

Median Household Income:

$96,619

Cost / Income ratio :

53.8%

Housing 26%
Food 9%
Transport 24%
Healthcare 10%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Housing$13,452

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Musselshell County, MT

Cost Rank: 45 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,231

Median Household Income:

$67,021

Cost / Income ratio :

73.5%

Housing 23%
Food 9%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,118

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Park County, MT

Cost Rank: 13 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$54,397

Median Household Income:

$93,125

Cost / Income ratio :

58.4%

Housing 24%
Food 9%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$13,521

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Petroleum County, MT

Cost Rank: 8 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,464

Median Household Income:

$78,750

Cost / Income ratio :

73.0%

Housing 23%
Food 7%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,789

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Phillips County, MT

Cost Rank: 56 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$45,450

Median Household Income:

$75,532

Cost / Income ratio :

60.2%

Housing 18%
Food 9%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 14%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,748

Cheaper Alternatives:

Pondera County, MT

Cost Rank: 31 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,817

Median Household Income:

$73,920

Cost / Income ratio :

68.7%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,568

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 18%
Food 8%
Transport 33%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$16,233

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Powell County, MT

Cost Rank: 53 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,459

Median Household Income:

$70,764

Cost / Income ratio :

67.1%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 14%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,350

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MT

Prairie County, MT

Cost Rank: 6 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,634

Median Household Income:

$69,545

Cost / Income ratio :

82.9%

Housing 23%
Food 7%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,796

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Ravalli County, MT

Cost Rank: 10 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,011

Median Household Income:

$86,256

Cost / Income ratio :

64.9%

Housing 23%
Food 8%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,461

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Richland County, MT

Cost Rank: 21 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,779

Median Household Income:

$87,353

Cost / Income ratio :

60.4%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,045

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Roosevelt County, MT

Cost Rank: 33 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,564

Median Household Income:

$65,000

Cost / Income ratio :

77.8%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,740

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Rosebud County, MT

Cost Rank: 35 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,146

Median Household Income:

$66,771

Cost / Income ratio :

75.1%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,588

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Sanders County, MT

Cost Rank: 37 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,840

Median Household Income:

$65,365

Cost / Income ratio :

76.2%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,724

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Sheridan County, MT

Cost Rank: 25 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,077

Median Household Income:

$91,154

Cost / Income ratio :

57.1%

Housing 20%
Food 8%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 12%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$15,646

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 23%
Food 9%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 14%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,177

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Stillwater County, MT

Cost Rank: 40 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,731

Median Household Income:

$101,688

Cost / Income ratio :

48.9%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 32%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$15,842

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

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%

Housing 21%
Food 10%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 10%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,555

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Teton County, MT

Cost Rank: 18 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$53,230

Median Household Income:

$82,873

Cost / Income ratio :

64.2%

Housing 22%
Food 8%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,810

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Toole County, MT

Cost Rank: 42 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,444

Median Household Income:

$78,750

Cost / Income ratio :

62.8%

Housing 21%
Food 8%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,812

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Treasure County, MT

Cost Rank: 7 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,574

Median Household Income:

$84,625

Cost / Income ratio :

68.0%

Housing 23%
Food 7%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Transport$15,862

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Valley County, MT

Cost Rank: 34 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,513

Median Household Income:

$87,909

Cost / Income ratio :

57.5%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,625

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Wheatland County, MT

Cost Rank: 29 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,110

Median Household Income:

$62,321

Cost / Income ratio :

82.0%

Housing 19%
Food 8%
Transport 32%
Healthcare 13%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$16,202

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Wibaux County, MT

Cost Rank: 4 / 56
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$58,497

Median Household Income:

$88,438

Cost / Income ratio :

66.1%

Housing 23%
Food 7%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Transport$16,359

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

Yellowstone County, MT

Cost Rank: 47 / 56
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,644

Median Household Income:

$94,167

Cost / Income ratio :

51.7%

Housing 25%
Food 9%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,740

Cheaper Alternatives: Phillips County, MTDeer Lodge County, MT

* Some counties might be unavailable