Franklin vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Franklin
Great Falls
The Verdict
Great Falls is 58.0% less expensive than Franklin overall. A household earning $75,000 in Franklin would need approximately $47,482 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 Franklin has the same purchasing power as $47,482 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $118,466 in Franklin.
Living in Franklin vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Franklin's housing index of 230 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $325,000. The $425,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,624 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Franklin compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $800.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Franklin and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Franklin 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 97 in Franklin and 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Franklin vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Franklin 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 $118,200 in Franklin and $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,036 and $63,409 respectively. Franklin residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,758/month to housing in Franklin vs $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/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 148 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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