Montana Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 56 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$825/mo
Average Home Value
$251,520
Average Owner Cost
$823/mo
County cost atlas
Montana housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
56
Avg rent
$825/mo
Owner cost
$823/mo
Avg score
58.5
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Montana: An Overview
The median rent in Montana is $825 per month, which is 29% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Montana, housing costs vary significantly by county. Gallatin County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,574 per month and a median home value of $604,900. Chouteau County has the lowest reported median rent at $485 per month and a median home value of $185,100.
The average home value across Montana counties is $251,520, 11% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $62,295, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Montana, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Montana
How median rents are spread across 56 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Montana Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin County | Expensive$1,574/mo | $604,900 | $1,610/mo | 6.1 | 29.0% |
| Madison County | Moderate$1,159/mo | $440,500 | $849/mo | 32.5 | 24.0% |
| Missoula County | Moderate$1,125/mo | $423,100 | $1,425/mo | 14.8 | 29.0% |
| Flathead County | Moderate$1,094/mo | $467,700 | $1,268/mo | 18.0 | 30.0% |
| Yellowstone County | Moderate$1,084/mo | $317,600 | $1,257/mo | 18.8 | 28.0% |
| Sweet Grass County | Moderate$1,073/mo | $295,500 | $839/mo | 35.8 | 23.0% |
| Lewis and Clark County | Moderate$1,062/mo | $358,200 | $1,352/mo | 17.9 | 26.0% |
| Ravalli County | Moderate$1,054/mo | $435,000 | $1,065/mo | 25.1 | 28.0% |
| Treasure County | Affordable$992/mo | $215,300 | $875/mo | 36.5 | 15.0% |
| Broadwater County | Affordable$978/mo | $364,800 | $1,106/mo | 26.8 | 36.0% |
| Stillwater County | Affordable$968/mo | $355,600 | $1,136/mo | 26.8 | 26.0% |
| Wibaux County | Affordable$964/mo | $92,300 | $535/mo | 62.0 | 12.0% |
| Park County | Affordable$927/mo | $429,700 | $1,106/mo | 30.1 | 29.0% |
| Custer County | Affordable$918/mo | $204,200 | $860/mo | 42.4 | 25.0% |
| Cascade County | Affordable$902/mo | $243,300 | $1,046/mo | 34.6 | 27.0% |
| Jefferson County | Affordable$886/mo | $408,000 | $1,166/mo | 31.8 | 20.0% |
| Lake County | Affordable$884/mo | $369,200 | $1,012/mo | 37.0 | 25.0% |
| Carbon County | Affordable$882/mo | $379,300 | $1,003/mo | 37.6 | 24.0% |
| Meagher County | Affordable$871/mo | $244,400 | $682/mo | 59.5 | 20.0% |
| Fergus County | Affordable$868/mo | $202,700 | $710/mo | 57.3 | 23.0% |
| Richland County | Affordable$866/mo | $259,000 | $825/mo | 49.7 | 22.0% |
| Musselshell County | Affordable$865/mo | $221,200 | $686/mo | 59.7 | 24.0% |
| Prairie County | Affordable$827/mo | $167,100 | $672/mo | 65.0 | 23.0% |
| Dawson County | Affordable$823/mo | $187,400 | $796/mo | 56.0 | 19.0% |
| Lincoln County | Affordable$810/mo | $258,700 | $681/mo | 66.2 | 28.0% |
| Silver Bow County | Affordable$810/mo | $223,500 | $944/mo | 48.1 | 29.0% |
| Pondera County | Affordable$806/mo | $179,200 | $621/mo | 70.7 | 21.0% |
| Garfield County | Affordable$802/mo | $178,300 | $594/mo | 73.1 | 23.0% |
| Beaverhead County | Affordable$800/mo | $282,000 | $829/mo | 57.0 | 28.0% |
| Sanders County | Affordable$774/mo | $323,800 | $655/mo | 72.9 | 39.0% |
| Fallon County | Affordable$772/mo | $237,000 | $878/mo | 56.8 | 20.0% |
| Powell County | Affordable$770/mo | $255,700 | $893/mo | 56.2 | 22.0% |
| Golden Valley County | Affordable$769/mo | $203,900 | $664/mo | 73.1 | 16.0% |
| Petroleum County | Affordable$769/mo | $173,700 | $600/mo | 77.0 | 19.0% |
| Valley County | Affordable$769/mo | $198,600 | $803/mo | 62.8 | 29.0% |
| Toole County | Affordable$753/mo | $187,400 | $958/mo | 54.8 | 21.0% |
| Hill County | Affordable$752/mo | $187,600 | $754/mo | 68.0 | 24.0% |
| Teton County | Affordable$750/mo | $235,500 | $859/mo | 60.8 | 26.0% |
| Sheridan County | Affordable$749/mo | $111,600 | $706/mo | 71.8 | 30.0% |
| Mineral County | Affordable$746/mo | $313,600 | $984/mo | 54.3 | 30.0% |
| Wheatland County | Affordable$741/mo | $172,700 | $575/mo | 82.0 | 18.0% |
| Granite County | Affordable$734/mo | $339,500 | $608/mo | 80.4 | 27.0% |
| Carter County | Affordable$731/mo | $176,600 | $581/mo | 82.7 | 29.0% |
| Roosevelt County | Affordable$707/mo | $119,400 | $415/mo | 91.8 | 19.0% |
| Blaine County | Affordable$689/mo | $124,900 | $533/mo | 89.6 | 17.0% |
| Big Horn County | Affordable$686/mo | $148,200 | $537/mo | 89.8 | 19.0% |
| Liberty County | Affordable$668/mo | $116,800 | $718/mo | 78.5 | 24.0% |
| Deer Lodge County | Affordable$661/mo | $209,700 | $827/mo | 71.4 | 27.0% |
| Rosebud County | Affordable$644/mo | $188,900 | $643/mo | 85.5 | 19.0% |
| Phillips County | Affordable$623/mo | $175,000 | $589/mo | 89.8 | 24.0% |
| Powder River County | Affordable$609/mo | $149,400 | $713/mo | 81.7 | 16.0% |
| Daniels County | Affordable$588/mo | $177,800 | $758/mo | 79.0 | 20.0% |
| Glacier County | Affordable$553/mo | $153,400 | $468/mo | 97.5 | 23.0% |
| McCone County | Affordable$543/mo | $197,400 | $635/mo | 88.8 | 15.0% |
| Judith Basin County | Affordable$502/mo | $214,200 | $598/mo | 91.3 | 16.0% |
| Chouteau County | Affordable$485/mo | $185,100 | $608/mo | 90.8 | 16.0% |
Compare Montana to Other States
See how Montana counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Montana Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Montana?
What is the most expensive county to live in Montana?
How does Montana's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Montana?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.