Cost of living comparison
California is 13.8% more expensive than Montana.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.1% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 10.7% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 10.9% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 22.6% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 46.0% more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.1% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 13.5% less in California
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, groceries, and restaurants in California are more expensive than in Montana.
If you lived in California instead of Montana, you would:
pay 2.1% more for restaurants
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$22.08
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.83
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.20
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 10.7% more for groceries
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.51
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.34
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.08
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.37
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.32
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.56
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.84
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.11
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.01
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.04
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 10.9% more for transportation
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.51
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$45.00
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,007.17
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$28.13
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 22.6% more for housing
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$81.26
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,501.94
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,420.42
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$165.97
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 46.0% more for childcare
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,302.15
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,987.50
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 18.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.97
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.94
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.59
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.52
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 13.5% less for clothing
|
Montana
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$62.80
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$65.21
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$95.93
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.12
|
$117.31
|
|
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