City Comparison

Cincinnati vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio
91
Below Average
$195,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$44,003
Median Income

Great Falls

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

The Verdict

3.4%

Living in Great Falls costs 3.4% less than Cincinnati. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $72,527 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
76
Cincinnati
82
Great Falls
Groceries
99
Cincinnati
99
Great Falls
Utilities
93
Cincinnati
90
Great Falls
Transportation
101
Cincinnati
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
96
Cincinnati
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $72,527 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $77,557 in Cincinnati.

Living in Cincinnati vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $325,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati 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 93 in Cincinnati and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $44,003 in Cincinnati and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 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 $1,027/month to housing in Cincinnati vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/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 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 3.4% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,527 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Cincinnati's housing index is 76 with median homes at $195,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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