Great Falls vs Hillsboro
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Great Falls
Hillsboro
The Verdict
Great Falls is 31.2% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Great Falls would need approximately $109,091 in Hillsboro 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 Great Falls has the same purchasing power as $109,091 in Hillsboro.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $51,563 in Great Falls.
Living in Great Falls vs Hillsboro
Housing Costs
Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $533,000. The $208,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,524 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $675.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls vs $513/month in Hillsboro. Great Falls offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 90 in Great Falls and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 103 in Hillsboro. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,800 in Great Falls and $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,302/month to housing in Great Falls vs $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 93 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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