Bellevue vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Great Falls
The Verdict
Great Falls is 79.5% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $41,772 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 Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $41,772 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $134,659 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $325,000. The $976,000 difference in home prices means roughly $63,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $1,475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $470/month in Great Falls. Great Falls offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 28-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $63,409 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/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 167 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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