Columbia vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Columbia
Great Falls
The Verdict
Great Falls is 50.0% less expensive than Columbia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Columbia would need approximately $50,000 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 Columbia has the same purchasing power as $50,000 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $112,500 in Columbia.
Living in Columbia vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Columbia's housing index of 172 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $430,000 vs $325,000. The $105,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Columbia compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $850.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Columbia and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Columbia 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 110 in Columbia and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Columbia 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 101 in Columbia and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $112,738 in Columbia and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,408 and $63,409 respectively. Columbia residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,631/month to housing in Columbia vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Columbia, median rent of $1,900/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 90 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases