Cost of living in Montana
compared to
#19
State Cost of Living Rank
Index: 83 (California = 100)
Cost of living in Montana vs. United States overall average
Montana is 0.2% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.6% more in Montana
- Groceries
-
pay 1.6% less in Montana
- Transportation
-
pay 13.0% less in Montana
- Housing
-
pay 1.2% less in Montana
- Childcare
-
pay 1.5% more in Montana
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.7% less in Montana
- Clothing
-
pay 15.9% more in Montana
The cost of clothing, restaurants, and childcare in Montana are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including transportation, entertainment and sports, groceries, and housing are lower in Montana.
Montana Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $19.36 |
$12.97
$12.97
$33.43
$33.43
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$13.71 |
$11.21
$11.21
$16.83
$16.83
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.27 |
$2.10
$2.10
$4.25
$4.25
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $1.97 |
$1.40
$1.40
$3.75
$3.75
|
Montana - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.67 |
$2.29
$2.29
$5.99
$5.99
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $7.92 |
$5.35
$5.35
$13.96
$13.96
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $4.18 |
$3.34
$3.34
$5.39
$5.39
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.60 |
$2.09
$2.09
$7.42
$7.42
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $5.14 |
$3.39
$3.39
$7.35
$7.35
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.52 |
$1.34
$1.34
$3.83
$3.83
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.79 |
$0.56
$0.56
$1.21
$1.21
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.00 |
$1.34
$1.34
$3.27
$3.27
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.26 |
$1.22
$1.22
$3.71
$3.71
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $0.93 |
$0.57
$0.57
$1.49
$1.49
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.01 |
$0.71
$0.71
$1.62
$1.62
|
Montana - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.31 |
$3.06
$3.06
$3.96
$3.96
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $39.33 | -- |
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $29,225.00 |
$25,677.26
$26K
$34,603.18
$35K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $17.76 |
$13.59
$13.59
$15.29
$15.29
|
Montana - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$81.66 |
$58.50
$58.50
$114.17
$114.17
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,523.61 |
$1,271.43
$1K
$1,861.43
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,255.90 |
$1,067.00
$1K
$1,630.00
$2K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$145.23 |
$101.28
$101.28
$316.19
$316.19
|
Montana - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,227.22 |
$1,006.00
$1K
$1,990.00
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $26,566.67 |
$23,000.00
$23K
$30,508.00
$31K
|
Montana - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $5.09 |
$3.92
$3.92
$8.00
$8.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.06 |
$3.71
$3.71
$7.17
$7.17
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.36 |
$8.27
$8.27
$10.35
$10.35
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $58.29 |
$37.49
$37.49
$73.33
$73.33
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $12.71 |
$11.04
$11.04
$18.67
$18.67
|
Montana - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$61.43 |
$41.67
$41.67
$89.17
$89.17
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$59.58 |
$38.20
$38.20
$78.00
$78.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.28 |
$60.83
$60.83
$140.83
$140.83
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $108.50 |
$60.83
$60.83
$147.33
$147.33
|
Montana - Cost of clothing
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