Cost of living comparison
Montana is 0.5% more expensive than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.8% more in Montana
- Groceries
-
pay 4.0% more in Montana
- Transportation
-
pay 0.7% more in Montana
- Housing
-
pay 6.6% more in Montana
- Childcare
-
pay 23.0% less in Montana
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.0% less in Montana
- Clothing
-
pay 22.2% more in Montana
The cost of clothing, housing, groceries, restaurants, and transportation in Montana are more expensive than in Washington. Expenses including childcare and entertainment and sports are lower in Montana.
If you lived in Montana instead of Washington, you would:
pay 1.8% more for restaurants
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.67
|
$22.08
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.36
|
$12.83
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.69
|
$2.17
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.05
|
$2.20
|
|
pay 4.0% more for groceries
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.73
|
$3.51
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.70
|
$8.34
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.02
|
$4.08
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.61
|
$3.37
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.38
|
$5.32
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.56
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.79
|
$0.84
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$2.11
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.94
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.21
|
$1.01
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
|
$1.04
|
|
pay 0.7% more for transportation
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.34
|
$3.51
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.97
|
$45.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,230.18
|
$31,007.17
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.60
|
$28.13
|
|
pay 6.6% more for housing
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.07
|
$81.26
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,678.49
|
$1,501.94
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.86
|
$1,420.42
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.02
|
$165.97
|
|
pay 23.0% less for childcare
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,651.91
|
$1,302.15
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,288.69
|
$18,987.50
|
|
pay 9.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.59
|
$4.97
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.24
|
$4.94
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.62
|
$9.59
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.78
|
$55.52
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.67
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 22.2% more for clothing
|
Washington
|
Montana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.46
|
$62.80
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.64
|
$65.21
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.80
|
$95.93
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$108.76
|
$105.12
|
|
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