A-
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
35%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Butte-Silver Bow Montana National
Cost of living108103100
Goods & Services135109100
Groceries103101100
Health care125111100
Housing83101100
Transportation113104100
Utilities8482100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Butte-Silver Bow, MT

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow is 108, which is 8% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Butte-Silver Bow, these items will cost you 35.4% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

Is Butte-Silver Bow Affordable?

Is Butte-Silver Bow affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Butte-Silver Bow, for instance, where the median home price falls 12% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 27.7% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Butte-Silver Bow flaunting a median household income of $74,846, 8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Butte-Silver Bow?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Butte-Silver Bow, the utilities index is 16.2% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Butte-Silver Bow, the healthcare costs are 24.6% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow is 5% higher than the Montana average
  • The cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow is 8% higher than the national average
  • Butte-Silver Bow housing is 17% lower than the national average
  • Montana general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Montana state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Butte-Silver Bow

See all the best places to live around Butte-Silver Bow

Compare Butte-Silver Bow, MT Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Butte-Silver Bow?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Butte-Silver Bow poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$85,600$7,133$1,997$2,568
      Renters$35,308$2,942$824$1,059
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Butte-Silver Bow, MT, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Butte-Silver Bow, homeowners have a median income of $85,600. Using that number, a maximum of $1,997 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $35,308, which means there is a maximum of $824 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Montana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Montana 0% 0%

      Montana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Montana 1% 6.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Butte-Silver Bow National avg. Difference
      Haircut $34.92$27.6226.4%
      Beauty Salon $100.86$51.1197.4%
      Toothpaste $3.94$4.093.7%
      Shampoo $1.42$1.547.9%
      Movie $15.66$12.8821.6%
      Yoga $30.70$19.6656.1%

      Groceries

      Item Butte-Silver Bow National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.65$7.700.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.6614.0%
      Milk $4.75$4.730.4%
      Potatoes $5.44$5.263.5%
      Pizza $14.24$12.7611.6%
      Beer $10.57$10.550.2%

      Health Care

      Item Butte-Silver Bow National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $160.57$140.0614.6%
      Doctor $244.35$153.8258.9%
      Dentist $170.38$123.1538.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.37$11.733.1%
      Lipitor $16.60$23.6129.7%

      Housing

      Item Butte-Silver Bow National avg. Difference
      Home Price $287,308.00$326,622.0012.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,283.65$2,480.2572.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,044.00$1,444.0027.7%

      Transportation

      Item Butte-Silver Bow National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.23$3.065.7%
      Tire Balancing $85.30$65.2130.8%

      Utilities

      Item Butte-Silver Bow National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $169.04$220.1223.2%
      Phone $187.14$195.714.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Walkerville, MT6501000.2%
      Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT9,366919.3%
      Butte-Silver Bow, MT35,4591087.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Georgetown, KY35,429982.0%
      Leawood, KS35,49513938.8%
      McMinnville, OR35,40311818.0%
      Dakota Ridge, CO35,38113535.4%
      Plainfield, IN35,538991.3%
      Butte-Silver Bow, MT35,4591087.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.