It's no secret that Montana is an expensive place to live. Those who call Big Sky Country home have seen a huge increase in property values, property taxes, and all the other things that seem to continue to increase regularly.

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Credit: Canva
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As people continue to flock here from other places where property values are out of sight, they've seemed to have brought their high cost of living with them and that has not gone over well with the folks that have called Montana home for generations.

Currently, the median price for a single-family home in Montana is over 600 thousand dollars.

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What does that mean for most of us? Well, it means that if we don't already own a home or make a butt load of money, chances of us buying a home in Big Sky Country might not be the best. Granted, there are Montana towns and cities that are less than others when it comes to the cost of living, however, the more popular places to live are a bit more pricey.

Which Montana towns and cities are the most expensive?

Unless you can work remotely, most Montanans live close to their jobs.  Of course, work opportunity seems to increase with more populated areas and some of the more populated areas come with a significant price tag.

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According to the folks over at Home Snacks, these are the most 8 expensive places to live in Montana in order.

  • Whitefish
  • Bozeman
  • Billings
  • Belgrade
  • Livingston
  • Kalispell
  • Sydney
  • Missoula

So what was the methodology that went behind determining the list? According to the site, they used the following to determine which Montana cities were the most expensive.

  • Overall Cost Of Living Index
  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

The data was gathered between 2018 and 2022 of course, that was during the pandemic in which Montana experienced a huge population increase, especially in places like Bozeman and other desirable locations across Montana.

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As mentioned, there are still a few places in The Treasure State that are a little more affordable. Places like Lewistown, Miles City, and Havre are mentioned as cheaper alternatives.

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Montana's 7 Poorest Cities Ranked

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Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

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Montana is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and with over 3000 lakes across The Treasure State, those who are looking to spend time on the water, have lots of options. From the biggest natural water lake west of the Mississippi to the crystal clear waters in our National Parks, check out the most popular lakes in Montana.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

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