Canton vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Canton
Great Falls
The Verdict
Canton is 10.2% less expensive than Great Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Canton would need approximately $83,544 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 Canton has the same purchasing power as $83,544 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $67,330 in Canton.
Living in Canton vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Canton's housing index of 48 is lower Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $325,000. The $205,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton vs $470/month in Great Falls. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Canton and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton 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 103 in Canton and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $41,500 in Canton and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 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 $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Canton, median rent of $775/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 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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