City Comparison

Fishers vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

Great Falls

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

The Verdict

20.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 20.5%, with Great Falls being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to $62,264 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Fishers
82
Great Falls
Groceries
99
Fishers
99
Great Falls
Utilities
100
Fishers
90
Great Falls
Transportation
102
Fishers
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
99
Fishers
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fishers has the same purchasing power as $62,264 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $90,341 in Fishers.

Living in Fishers vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Fishers's housing index of 120 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $391,000 vs $325,000. The $66,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Fishers compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fishers and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fishers 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 100 in Fishers and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Fishers vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fishers 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 $130,200 in Fishers and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $122,830 and $63,409 respectively. Fishers residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,038/month to housing in Fishers vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/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 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 20.5% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,264 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Fishers's housing index is 120 with median homes at $391,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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