City Comparison

Flint vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Flint

Michigan
85
Very Affordable
$75,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$30,400
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%

The cost gap between these cities is 3.4%, with Flint being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to $77,647 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
31
Flint
82
Great Falls
Groceries
100
Flint
99
Great Falls
Utilities
94
Flint
90
Great Falls
Transportation
108
Flint
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
95
Flint
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Flint has the same purchasing power as $77,647 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $72,443 in Flint.

Living in Flint vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Flint's housing index of 31 is lower Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $75,000 vs $325,000. The $250,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,248 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Flint compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Flint and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Flint 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 94 in Flint and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Flint vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Flint 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 $30,400 in Flint and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $35,765 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 $709/month to housing in Flint vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Flint, median rent of $775/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 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flint is 3.4% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $77,647 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Flint's housing index is 31 with median homes at $75,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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