Santa Fe, NM vs Great Falls, MT: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Great Falls, MT is 1.9% less expensive than Santa Fe, NM (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Santa Fe works out to about $73,500 in Great Falls, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 10.1% less in Great Falls. Goods are 0.1% lower and other services 0.2% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,428 a month in Great Falls and $1,953 in Santa Fe, $6,300 a year less in Great Falls (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $340,000 in Great Falls and $549,000 in Santa Fe.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Great Falls was 8.3% less expensive than Santa Fe.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 10.1% lower in Great Falls than in Santa Fe
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
All items Santa Fe, NM: 98.8 Great Falls, MT: 96.8
Goods Santa Fe, NM: 96.1 Great Falls, MT: 96.0
Housing (rents) Santa Fe, NM: 108.0 Great Falls, MT: 97.1
Utilities Santa Fe, NM: 76.7 Great Falls, MT: 73.0
Other services Santa Fe, NM: 98.5 Great Falls, MT: 98.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.8 | 96.8 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 108.0 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 76.7 | 73.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.7 |
| Category | Santa Fe | Great Falls | Great Falls vs Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.8 | 96.8 | −1.9% |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.0 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 108.0 | 97.1 | −10.1% |
| Utilities | 76.7 | 73.0 | −4.8% |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.7 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,953 | $1,428 | −26.9% |
| Typical home value | $549,000 | $340,000 | −38.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Santa Fe | $75,000 | $73,500 | −1.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Santa Fe and Great Falls has narrowed since 2008: 12.8 points then, 1.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.0 | 85.3 |
| 2009 | 102.0 | 89.3 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 85.0 |
| 2011 | 103.2 | 91.8 |
| 2012 | 102.1 | 92.3 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 91.9 |
| 2014 | 101.6 | 92.1 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 90.1 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 88.0 |
| 2017 | 98.8 | 90.2 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 91.8 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 88.8 |
| 2020 | 96.6 | 87.0 |
| 2021 | 93.2 | 86.9 |
| 2022 | 94.9 | 91.2 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 93.4 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 96.8 |
Goods
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.8 | 94.9 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 98.5 | 99.4 |
| 2012 | 100.0 | 99.5 |
| 2013 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2014 | 96.8 | 96.4 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 94.9 | 92.7 |
| 2017 | 100.1 | 98.7 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 99.3 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 97.0 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 97.4 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 96.1 | 96.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.2 | 38.9 |
| 2009 | 108.3 | 46.0 |
| 2010 | 107.3 | 40.1 |
| 2011 | 114.1 | 54.0 |
| 2012 | 105.9 | 59.8 |
| 2013 | 103.8 | 61.2 |
| 2014 | 112.2 | 60.7 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 57.2 |
| 2016 | 102.7 | 53.7 |
| 2017 | 94.7 | 51.8 |
| 2018 | 100.2 | 73.8 |
| 2019 | 94.6 | 56.0 |
| 2020 | 99.7 | 54.1 |
| 2021 | 91.9 | 55.5 |
| 2022 | 98.9 | 77.8 |
| 2023 | 90.8 | 89.1 |
| 2024 | 108.0 | 97.1 |
Utilities
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.2 | 80.4 |
| 2009 | 82.0 | 78.3 |
| 2010 | 92.0 | 85.1 |
| 2011 | 93.8 | 87.5 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 89.4 |
| 2013 | 94.6 | 87.2 |
| 2014 | 101.4 | 89.4 |
| 2015 | 97.2 | 89.9 |
| 2016 | 91.0 | 86.2 |
| 2017 | 90.3 | 81.2 |
| 2018 | 80.7 | 76.1 |
| 2019 | 78.8 | 78.9 |
| 2020 | 82.6 | 79.2 |
| 2021 | 81.0 | 73.5 |
| 2022 | 82.4 | 72.9 |
| 2023 | 77.1 | 72.7 |
| 2024 | 76.7 | 73.0 |
Other services
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.9 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 100.1 |
| 2011 | 103.7 | 102.9 |
| 2012 | 102.6 | 102.3 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 101.3 | 100.8 |
| 2015 | 100.2 | 100.1 |
| 2016 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 95.5 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 91.8 | 92.5 |
| 2022 | 92.4 | 92.7 |
| 2023 | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| 2024 | 98.5 | 98.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,428 in Great Falls vs $1,953 in Santa Fe
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,080 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,008 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,119 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,095 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,149 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,147 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,203 | $823 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,165 | $814 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,201 | $826 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,256 | $832 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,262 | $842 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,282 | $823 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,298 | $836 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,368 | $857 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,407 | $862 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,361 | $857 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,414 | $861 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,388 | $890 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,389 | $907 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,448 | $906 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,461 | $934 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,525 | $992 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,638 | $1,058 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,656 | $1,039 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,704 | $1,114 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,771 | $1,151 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,777 | $1,207 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,806 | $1,265 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,830 | $1,238 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,922 | $1,221 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,883 | $1,247 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,905 | $1,224 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,912 | $1,254 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,947 | $1,288 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,963 | $1,336 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,926 | $1,314 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,935 | $1,341 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,935 | $1,357 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,940 | $1,373 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,928 | $1,367 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,925 | $1,390 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,963 | $1,429 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,953 | $1,428 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $340,000 in Great Falls vs $549,000 in Santa Fe
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Santa Fe, NM
- Great Falls, MT
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Santa Fe, NM | Great Falls, MT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $284K | $164K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $287K | $166K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $293K | $168K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $299K | $170K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $295K | $171K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $298K | $172K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $299K | $172K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $301K | $174K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $308K | $174K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $319K | $176K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $326K | $177K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $332K | $179K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $334K | $180K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $328K | $183K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $334K | $186K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $344K | $188K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $357K | $190K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $368K | $192K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $375K | $194K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $381K | $195K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $389K | $198K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $395K | $200K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $405K | $204K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $424K | $211K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $444K | $219K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $465K | $231K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $475K | $240K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $487K | $248K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $507K | $263K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $533K | $277K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $531K | $278K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $521K | $278K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $521K | $279K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $532K | $289K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $539K | $295K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $540K | $298K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $541K | $303K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $549K | $307K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $548K | $310K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $550K | $318K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $548K | $325K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $545K | $328K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $545K | $331K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $546K | $334K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $546K | $339K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $547K | $340K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $549K | $340K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.