California vs Montana: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in California or Montana?
- Overall, Montana is 14.5% less expensive than California (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in California works out to about $64,100 in Montana, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 45.2% less in Montana. Goods are 9.5% lower and other services 3.8% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 54.5% lower in Montana.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $59,203 in Montana and $63,028 in California (6.1% lower in Montana; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 93.5 in Billings, MT to 102.5 in Bozeman, MT (Montana) and from 95.2 in El Centro, CA to 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (California), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (15.2%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 45.2% lower in Montana than in California
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- California
- Montana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.7 | 94.6 |
| Goods | 106.1 | 96.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 154.3 | 84.6 |
| Utilities | 158.9 | 72.3 |
| Other services | 102.6 | 98.7 |
| Category | California | Montana | Montana vs California |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.7 | 94.6 | −14.5% |
| Goods | 106.1 | 96.0 | −9.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 154.3 | 84.6 | −45.2% |
| Utilities | 158.9 | 72.3 | −54.5% |
| Other services | 102.6 | 98.7 | −3.8% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $63,028 | $59,203 | −6.1% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $6.03 | $4.47 | −25.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in California | $75,000 | $64,100 | −14.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Rocky Mountain region average (EIA has no separate Montana figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
California
- El Centro, CA 95.2
- Merced, CA 98.3
- Visalia, CA 99.8
- Redding, CA 100.7
- Bakersfield, CA 100.9
- Chico, CA 101.2
- Hanford, CA 101.6
- Fresno, CA 102.2
- Modesto, CA 104.1
- Yuba City, CA 104.2
- Stockton, CA 105.1
- Riverside, CA 106.4
- Sacramento, CA 106.7
- Santa Rosa, CA 107.8
- Vallejo, CA 108.5
- San Luis Obispo, CA 108.6
- Santa Maria, CA 108.8
- Salinas, CA 109.0
- Santa Cruz, CA 109.9
- San Jose, CA 110.4
- Oxnard, CA 110.5
- San Diego, CA 111.9
- Napa, CA 112.6
- Los Angeles, CA 113.6
- San Francisco, CA 115.6
Montana
- Billings, MT 93.5
- Helena, MT 95.7
- Missoula, MT 96.4
- Great Falls, MT 96.8
- Bozeman, MT 102.5
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between California and Montana has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- California
- Montana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.2 | 94.1 |
| 2009 | 110.7 | 93.2 |
| 2010 | 109.7 | 92.4 |
| 2011 | 109.5 | 94.2 |
| 2012 | 109.7 | 93.2 |
| 2013 | 109.7 | 92.9 |
| 2014 | 109.9 | 95.2 |
| 2015 | 110.7 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 110.0 | 93.9 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 94.2 |
| 2018 | 111.9 | 92.4 |
| 2019 | 111.1 | 94.2 |
| 2020 | 111.9 | 92.0 |
| 2021 | 111.9 | 91.3 |
| 2022 | 112.6 | 90.2 |
| 2023 | 112.2 | 91.0 |
| 2024 | 110.7 | 94.6 |
Goods
- California
- Montana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.4 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 104.7 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 103.0 | 99.3 |
| 2011 | 103.6 | 99.6 |
| 2012 | 104.1 | 97.7 |
| 2013 | 104.3 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 104.3 | 97.2 |
| 2015 | 105.5 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 104.4 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 104.5 | 101.9 |
| 2018 | 105.5 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 106.2 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 106.7 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 108.1 | 96.8 |
| 2022 | 108.4 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 106.8 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 106.1 | 96.0 |
Housing (rents)
- California
- Montana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 161.4 | 69.4 |
| 2009 | 160.4 | 67.9 |
| 2010 | 158.0 | 69.9 |
| 2011 | 157.1 | 73.1 |
| 2012 | 156.2 | 72.3 |
| 2013 | 155.7 | 71.8 |
| 2014 | 157.9 | 81.2 |
| 2015 | 158.0 | 73.9 |
| 2016 | 160.1 | 73.1 |
| 2017 | 162.5 | 70.5 |
| 2018 | 163.8 | 76.6 |
| 2019 | 164.6 | 79.5 |
| 2020 | 166.3 | 75.7 |
| 2021 | 165.0 | 79.3 |
| 2022 | 160.1 | 74.3 |
| 2023 | 157.8 | 76.8 |
| 2024 | 154.3 | 84.6 |
Utilities
- California
- Montana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.4 | 76.5 |
| 2009 | 112.8 | 75.9 |
| 2010 | 117.2 | 80.5 |
| 2011 | 115.3 | 85.3 |
| 2012 | 117.1 | 84.8 |
| 2013 | 121.4 | 84.7 |
| 2014 | 128.3 | 84.2 |
| 2015 | 129.3 | 85.9 |
| 2016 | 129.5 | 87.0 |
| 2017 | 130.7 | 83.2 |
| 2018 | 125.1 | 76.9 |
| 2019 | 131.0 | 79.2 |
| 2020 | 133.5 | 79.2 |
| 2021 | 144.2 | 74.7 |
| 2022 | 152.3 | 72.9 |
| 2023 | 147.3 | 72.8 |
| 2024 | 158.9 | 72.3 |
Other services
- California
- Montana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.9 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 102.0 | 99.8 |
| 2010 | 101.7 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 101.6 | 99.6 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 98.5 |
| 2013 | 101.8 | 99.7 |
| 2014 | 101.9 | 99.7 |
| 2015 | 102.8 | 99.4 |
| 2016 | 101.9 | 96.7 |
| 2017 | 103.3 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 104.3 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 102.4 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 101.9 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 102.1 | 92.5 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 92.7 |
| 2023 | 104.4 | 93.6 |
| 2024 | 102.6 | 98.7 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $59,203 in Montana, $63,028 in California
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- California
- Montana
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| California | Montana | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $43,788 | $42,435 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $42,377 | $41,658 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $43,503 | $43,082 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $44,844 | $43,686 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $46,162 | $45,713 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $45,826 | $45,180 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $47,472 | $45,344 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $50,054 | $46,713 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $51,802 | $47,039 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $52,569 | $48,274 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $53,523 | $50,168 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $55,931 | $50,997 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $59,993 | $55,801 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $63,373 | $59,635 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $59,126 | $59,372 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $60,100 | $60,386 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $63,028 | $59,203 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in California
- Cost of living in Montana
- Reverse: moving from Montana to California
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.