50 states · MT

Montana cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Montana has a cost-of-living index of 105.9 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $52,950, median household income of $75,340, combined average sales tax about 0.00%, and regular gas about $4.087/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index105.9100 = US baseline

Est. annual COL$52,950

Median HH income$75,340

Sales tax (comb.)0.00%

Gas (87 octane)$4.087/galJune 2026 AAA

Largest cityBillings (120,864)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Two brackets: 4.7% / 5.65% (2026)

Sales tax: None statewide (local only in some areas)

Major industries: Agriculture (cattle), tourism/outdoors, mining, energy, timber

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~85°F (July) · Winter low ~12°F (January)

Culture (context)

C.M. Russell Museum (Western art) / Little Bighorn

Montana State Fair (Great Falls)
Crow Fair — largest Native American cultural event in the Northern Plains

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 105.9 in Montana. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 105.9% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Montana vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

Read the quick answer for Montana's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
Open the 50-state explorer and compare Montana with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

Arizona — COL 107.6 (Δ 1.7 index pts)
Oregon — COL 109.6 (Δ 3.7 index pts)
Colorado — COL 101.8 (Δ 4.1 index pts)

Browse A–Z:

FAQ

What is Montana's cost of living index?

Montana's cost-of-living index is 105.9 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Montana?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $52,950 for Montana.

What is median household income in Montana?

Median household income in Montana is $75,340 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Montana?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Montana is 0.00%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Montana have a state income tax?

State income tax in Montana: Two brackets: 4.7% / 5.65% (2026).

What was regular gas in Montana in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $4.087 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Montana's cost-of-living index?

The index is 105.9 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 105.9% of that salary to buy the same basket in Montana in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). State income-tax blurb: Montana Department of Revenue — HB 337 (2026 rates). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice. Income-tax blurb on this page was updated October 2026.