Is $250,000 a good salary in Montana?

$250,000 in Montana provides a monthly take-home of approximately $13,907 after taxes. Across major Montana cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $11,849.

What is the cost of living on $250,000 in Montana?

The average monthly living cost across major Montana cities is approximately $2,058 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $250,000 take-home pay of $13,907/month, you would have roughly $11,849/month remaining.

Living in Montana · 2026

Is $250,000 enough to live in Montana?

Single adult · MT · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$13,907

Avg monthly expenses

$2,058

Avg monthly surplus

$11,849

Savings potential

~85%

After-tax take-home in Montana

Gross salary$250,000

Federal income tax− $51,378

State income tax− $16,455

Social Security− $11,203

Medicare− $4,075

Annual take-home$166,889

Effective tax rate33.24%

How $250,000 feels in Montana cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Billings

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$418

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,020/mo

Surplus: $11,887/mo

Rent burden: 7.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Billings analysis →

Missoula

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$440

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,170/mo

Surplus: $11,737/mo

Rent burden: 8.6% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Missoula analysis →

Great Falls

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$405

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,814/mo

Surplus: $12,093/mo

Rent burden: 6.8% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Great Falls analysis →

Bozeman

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,600

Food

$475

Transport

$207

Utilities

$195

Healthcare

$236

Total: $2,713/mo

Surplus: $11,194/mo

Rent burden: 11.5% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Bozeman analysis →

Butte

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$850

Food

$387

Transport

$140

Utilities

$132

Healthcare

$160

Total: $1,669/mo

Surplus: $12,238/mo

Rent burden: 6.1% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Butte analysis →

Helena

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,959/mo

Surplus: $11,948/mo

Rent burden: 7.5% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Helena analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $13,907 ($166,884/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$6,954

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$4,172

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$2,781

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$83,442

Wants / year

$50,065

Savings / year

$33,377

Salary Intelligence

Excellent salary in Billings

At $250,000, housing costs only 8% of take-home income — well below the 25% threshold. This leaves strong room for savings, discretionary spending, and wealth building.

Lifestyle score: 8.6/10 (Excellent)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $250,000 salary comfortably supports a excellent single lifestyle in Billings, Montana, with approximately $11,887/month (~85% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Billings is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.93). $250,000 here is roughly equivalent to $497,312 in San Francisco or $236,559 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$250,000 is 527% above the Montana individual median of $39,900 and 346% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$39,900

+527%

State household median

$68,933

+263%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$250,000 vs. Montana income benchmarks

Individual median (Montana)

$39,900

+527% vs. this salary

Household median (Montana)

$68,933

+263% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Montana

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.