City Comparison

Brooklyn vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

Great Falls

Montana
88
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$55,800
Median Income

The Verdict

121.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 121.6%, with Great Falls being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to $33,846 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
325
Brooklyn
82
Great Falls
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
99
Great Falls
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
90
Great Falls
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $33,846 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $166,193 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $325,000. The $455,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,580 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $1,850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $470/month in Great Falls. Great Falls offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $360 in Great Falls. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $63,409 respectively. Great Falls residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 243 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 121.6% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $33,846 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases