Alexandria vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Great Falls
The Verdict
Great Falls is 64.8% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $45,517 in Great Falls to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $45,517 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $123,580 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $325,000. The $265,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,220 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $1,075.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $470/month in Great Falls. Great Falls offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $63,409 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 119 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases