Cost of Living in Great Falls, MT
Updated November 2026 · Cascade County · Great Falls, MT metro area · population 60,329
Prices in Great Falls are 3.0% below the US average (local index 97.0; the BEA index for the Great Falls, MT metro area is 96.8), with utilities the biggest saving at 73.0; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,211 a month and the median rent is $900.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Great Falls's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Great Falls, MT metro area, unchanged.
Great Falls price index by category, US average = 100: All items 97.0, Housing (rents) 94.7, Goods 96.0, Utilities 73.0, Other services 98.7
It is the 4th most expensive of the 6 Montana cities in our data. Cheaper than 68% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.8 | 87.0 | 86.9 | 91.2 | 93.4 | 96.8 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Great Falls, MT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $620 | $7,440 | 28% |
| Utilities | $195 | $2,340 | 9% |
| Food at home | $271 | $3,252 | 12% |
| Transportation | $616 | $7,392 | 28% |
| Health care | $347 | $4,164 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $162 | $1,944 | 7% |
| Total | $2,211 | $26,532 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Great Falls, MT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $877 | $10,524 | 23% |
| Utilities | $309 | $3,708 | 8% |
| Food at home | $500 | $6,000 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,220 | $14,640 | 32% |
| Health care | $643 | $7,716 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $319 | $3,828 | 8% |
| Total | $3,868 | $46,416 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Great Falls, MT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,099 | $13,188 | 23% |
| Utilities | $376 | $4,512 | 8% |
| Food at home | $713 | $8,556 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,623 | $19,476 | 34% |
| Health care | $599 | $7,188 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $411 | $4,932 | 9% |
| Total | $4,821 | $57,852 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Great Falls
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $764 |
| 1 bedroom | $676 |
| 2 bedrooms | $956 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,198 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,458 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $900 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $826 |
| Median home value | $257,000 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $1,501/mo |
| Median household income | $63,373 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 28.2% |
| Home value ÷ household income Moderate | 4.1× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Montana
15.57¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +9.0% (from 14.29¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 826 kWh a month in Montana ≈ $115/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)
$4.21 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +43.4% (from $2.94) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Montana is covered by the Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) average.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Great Falls are 3.0% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $61,900 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 97.0. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collierville, TN | 97.0 | $2,886 | $1,691 |
| Waukesha, WI | 96.9 | $2,517 | $1,219 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 96.9 | $2,550 | $1,320 |
| Klamath Falls, OR | 97.0 | $2,408 | $986 |
| St. Peters, MO | 97.0 | $2,640 | $1,321 |
| Gainesville, FL | 96.9 | $2,633 | $1,296 |
Compare Great Falls with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Great Falls, MT an expensive place to live?
Great Falls has a local cost of living index of 97.0, which is 3.0% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Great Falls, MT metro area (96.8) and adjusts housing to Great Falls's own rents. It is 2.3 points above the Montana average. It is the 4th most expensive of the 6 Montana cities in our data. Cheaper than 68% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Great Falls?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,211 for a single adult, $3,868 for a couple and $4,821 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $58,200 in Great Falls.
What is the average rent in Great Falls?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $900 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $676, 2 bedrooms $956, 3 bedrooms $1,198. The typical renter spends 28.2% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Great Falls?
The median owner-estimated home value is $257,000, 4.1 times the median household income of $63,373 (moderate). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,501 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Great Falls?
Montana residential electricity averaged 15.57¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.21 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Great Falls, MT metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 96.8) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 3032800 (Great Falls city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Montana residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources