$

Living in Montana · 2026

Is $36,000 enough to live in Montana?

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

Statewide verdict:Manageable

Monthly take-home

$2,419

Avg monthly expenses

$2,058

Avg monthly surplus

$361

Savings potential

~15%

After-tax take-home in Montana

Gross salary$36,000
Federal income tax− $2,214
State income tax− $2,010
Social Security− $2,232
Medicare− $522
Annual take-home$29,022
Effective tax rate19.38%

How $36,000 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: $399/mo
Rent burden: 45.5% — 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: $249/mo
Rent burden: 49.6% — High (35–50%)
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: $605/mo
Rent burden: 39.3% — 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: $-294/mo
Rent burden: 66.2% — 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: $750/mo
Rent burden: 35.1% — 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: $460/mo
Rent burden: 43.4% — High (35–50%)
Full Helena analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,419 ($29,028/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$1,210

per month

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

$726

per month

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

$484

per month

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

Needs / year

$14,514

Wants / year

$8,708

Savings / year

$5,806

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Billings

Rent would consume 45% 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: 4.8/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $36,000 salary supports a fair single lifestyle in Billings, Montana. After essential expenses, approximately $399/month (~16% of take-home) is available for savings or discretionary spending.

Purchasing Power

Billings is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.93). $36,000 here is roughly equivalent to $71,613 in San Francisco or $34,065 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$36,000 is 10% 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

-10%

State household median

$68,933

-48%

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)

$36,000 vs. Montana income benchmarks

Individual median (Montana)

$39,900

-10% vs. this salary

Household median (Montana)

$68,933

-48% 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
F

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.