Is $26,000 a good salary in Montana?

$26,000 in Montana provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,802 after taxes. Across major Montana cities, this salary is rated very tight, with an average monthly surplus of $-256.

What is the cost of living on $26,000 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 $26,000 take-home pay of $1,802/month, you would have roughly $-256/month remaining.

Living in Montana · 2026

Is $26,000 enough to live in Montana?

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

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,802

Avg monthly expenses

$2,058

Avg monthly surplus

$-256

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Montana

Gross salary$26,000

Federal income tax− $1,050

State income tax− $1,335

Social Security− $1,612

Medicare− $377

Annual take-home$21,626

Effective tax rate16.82%

How $26,000 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 tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$418

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,020/mo

Surplus: $-218/mo

Rent burden: 61.0% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Billings analysis →

Missoula

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$440

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,170/mo

Surplus: $-368/mo

Rent burden: 66.6% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Missoula analysis →

Great Falls

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$405

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,814/mo

Surplus: $-12/mo

Rent burden: 52.7% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Great Falls analysis →

Bozeman

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Not recommended

Rent (1BR)

$1,600

Food

$475

Transport

$207

Utilities

$195

Healthcare

$236

Total: $2,713/mo

Surplus: $-911/mo

Rent burden: 88.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Bozeman analysis →

Butte

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$850

Food

$387

Transport

$140

Utilities

$132

Healthcare

$160

Total: $1,669/mo

Surplus: $133/mo

Rent burden: 47.2% — High (35–50%)

Full Butte analysis →

Helena

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,959/mo

Surplus: $-157/mo

Rent burden: 58.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Helena analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,802 ($21,624/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$901

per month

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

Wants30%

$541

per month

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

Savings20%

$360

per month

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

Needs / year

$10,812

Wants / year

$6,487

Savings / year

$4,325

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Billings

Rent alone would take 61% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $44,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.1/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $26,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Billings, Montana. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $218, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Billings is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.93). $26,000 here is roughly equivalent to $51,720 in San Francisco or $24,602 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$26,000 is 35% below the Montana individual median of $39,900. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$39,900

-35%

State household median

$68,933

-62%

Tax reduction strategies

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

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$26,000 vs. Montana income benchmarks

Individual median (Montana)

$39,900

-35% vs. this salary

Household median (Montana)

$68,933

-62% 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.