Great Falls, Montana
Living in Great Falls, Montana is close to the national average, with a cost of living index of 100 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,428 a month, 26% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $4.00 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 50% of the area's $60,560 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.00
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,428
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.99
Combo meal
Electricity
15.57¢
per kWh · ~$140/mo
Car Insurance
$142/mo
$1,698/yr
Median Household Income
$60,560
49.6% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,698 in Great Falls. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,428/mo in Great Falls. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.89 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.60 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.49 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$5.29 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$5.59 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$4.00 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.59 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$4.72 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$9.19 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$2.49 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
$2.59 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
$3.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
$6.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
$5.00 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
$5.99 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.89 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.60 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.49 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$5.29 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$5.59 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$4.00 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.59 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$4.72 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$9.19 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$2.49 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$2.59 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$1.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$6.79 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate$5.00 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$5.99 @ Smith's - Great Falls Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.99
Casual Dining
$25.68
Monthly Spend
$451.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Great Falls?
Average 1BR: $1,171/mo · 2BR: $1,685/mo
Great Falls Cost of Living FAQ
Is Great Falls, MT expensive to live in?
Great Falls has a cost of living index of 100, where 100 is the US average, so it is close to average. It is the most expensive of the 6 Montana cities we track.
What is the average rent in Great Falls, MT?
Typical rent in Great Falls is $1,428 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 26% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,171 and two bedrooms about $1,685. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Great Falls?
Rent in Great Falls rose 4.0% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Great Falls?
Regular unleaded costs about $4.00 a gallon in Great Falls as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Montana. That is about the same as the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Great Falls?
Homes in Montana pay an average of 15.6 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Great Falls is about $140.
How much is car insurance in Great Falls?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,698 a year in Montana, or about $142 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Great Falls?
Median household income in the Great Falls area is $60,560 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $30,026 a year, or 50% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,112 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Great Falls compare with the rest of Montana?
Rent in Great Falls is 17% below the $1,719 average across the 6 Montana cities we track, and its cost of living index of 100 compares with a state average of 96.
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