State relocation profile · Federal data
Montana
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Montana from federal sources.
- 94.6
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,335
- 2BR rent / mo
- $65,917
- Median salary
- 40.1
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Montana ranks #45 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (40.1/100, F), with its strongest marks in environment and cost of living.
- #45 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 40.1
- Life Score · F
- 94.6
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $65,917
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: schools (18/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Montana ranks #45 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 94.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,335/mo, median salary $65,917; Life Score 40.1/100 (F), strongest in environment and cost of living.
Signature: Life Score 40.1/100 places Montana #45 of 51 (bottom third of scored states).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 94.6 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,335/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $65,917.
Composite Life Score 40.1/100 (F) puts Montana in the bottom third (#45 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (5 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet MT · Montana 40.1/100 · F · #45 of 51
LIFE-F · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-ENVIRO · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-F Life Score F
- RANK-BOTTOM #45/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 94.6
- LEAD-ENVIRO Lead · environment
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: California (+ 0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Montana
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Montana on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Montana childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Montana (infant $11,466/yr leads the book).
Montana Life Score breakdown
Montana composites to 40.1/100 (F) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #45 of 51.
Montana - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Environment
Environment
90 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
58 /100
- Rent
Rent
42 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
41 /100
- Safety 22
Safety
22 /100
- Wages 20
Wages
20 /100
- Schools 18
Schools
18 /100
What this shows Montana's strongest dimensions are environment and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 18/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Montana on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Montana on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Montana
Explore detailed relocation data for 5 metropolitan areas in Montana. Montana contains 5 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Billings metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Montana cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Montana wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.