Columbus vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Columbus
Great Falls
The Verdict
Great Falls is 5.7% less expensive than Columbus overall. A household earning $75,000 in Columbus would need approximately $70,968 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 Columbus has the same purchasing power as $70,968 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $79,261 in Columbus.
Living in Columbus vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Columbus's housing index of 82 is equal to Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $240,000 vs $325,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Columbus compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Columbus and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Columbus 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 Columbus and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Columbus vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Columbus 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 $56,590 in Columbus and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,849 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 $1,320/month to housing in Columbus vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Columbus, median rent of $1,200/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 Transportation, where the gap is 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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