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Living in Montana · 2026

Is $35,000 enough to live in Montana?

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

Statewide verdict:Manageable

Monthly take-home

$2,357

Avg monthly expenses

$2,058

Avg monthly surplus

$299

Savings potential

~13%

After-tax take-home in Montana

Gross salary$35,000
Federal income tax− $2,094
State income tax− $1,942
Social Security− $2,170
Medicare− $508
Annual take-home$28,286
Effective tax rate19.18%

How $35,000 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

Manageable
Rent (1BR)
$1,100
Food
$418
Transport
$163
Utilities
$153
Healthcare
$186
Total: $2,020/mo
Surplus: $337/mo
Rent burden: 46.7% — High (35–50%)
Full Billings analysis →

Missoula

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Manageable
Rent (1BR)
$1,200
Food
$440
Transport
$172
Utilities
$162
Healthcare
$196
Total: $2,170/mo
Surplus: $187/mo
Rent burden: 50.9% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Missoula analysis →

Great Falls

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$405
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,814/mo
Surplus: $543/mo
Rent burden: 40.3% — High (35–50%)
Full Great Falls analysis →

Bozeman

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$1,600
Food
$475
Transport
$207
Utilities
$195
Healthcare
$236
Total: $2,713/mo
Surplus: $-356/mo
Rent burden: 67.9% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Bozeman analysis →

Butte

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Comfortable
Rent (1BR)
$850
Food
$387
Transport
$140
Utilities
$132
Healthcare
$160
Total: $1,669/mo
Surplus: $688/mo
Rent burden: 36.1% — High (35–50%)
Full Butte analysis →

Helena

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Manageable
Rent (1BR)
$1,050
Food
$418
Transport
$159
Utilities
$150
Healthcare
$182
Total: $1,959/mo
Surplus: $398/mo
Rent burden: 44.5% — High (35–50%)
Full Helena analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,357 ($28,284/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$1,179

per month

  • ›Rent / mortgage
  • ›Groceries
  • ›Utilities
  • ›Insurance
  • ›Minimum debt payments
  • ›Transportation
Wants30%

$707

per month

  • ›Dining out
  • ›Streaming services
  • ›Gym
  • ›Hobbies
  • ›Travel
  • ›Shopping
Savings20%

$471

per month

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

Needs / year

$14,142

Wants / year

$8,485

Savings / year

$5,657

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Billings

Rent would consume 47% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.5/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $35,000 salary supports a fair single lifestyle in Billings, Montana. After essential expenses, approximately $337/month (~14% of take-home) is available for savings or discretionary spending.

Purchasing Power

Billings is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.93). $35,000 here is roughly equivalent to $69,624 in San Francisco or $33,118 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$35,000 is 12% 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

-12%

State household median

$68,933

-49%

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)

$35,000 vs. Montana income benchmarks

Individual median (Montana)

$39,900

-12% vs. this salary

Household median (Montana)

$68,933

-49% 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
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Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.