Columbia Falls, MT

Living costs in Columbia Falls land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 99 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $346,700, and typical monthly rents run around $1,003. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,003, while local median household income is $65,313. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

Montana has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.9%. The effective property tax rate is 0.74%. On a home worth $346,700, that translates to roughly $2,566 per year in property taxes. There is no state sales tax.

The typical monthly rent in Columbia Falls is around $1,003. That's roughly 26% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $346,700, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Columbia Falls is valued at $346,700. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,753/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 64% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Columbia Falls are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

Columbia Falls is a small town with a population of about 5,531. The median age of residents is 38.3, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 16.06%, above the national average of 12.4%.