Great Falls vs Orem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Great Falls
Orem
The Verdict
Great Falls is 24.8% less expensive than Orem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Great Falls would need approximately $99,716 in Orem 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 $99,716 in Orem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Orem equals $56,410 in Great Falls.
Living in Great Falls vs Orem
Housing Costs
Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Orem's 147, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $528,000. The $203,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,200 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,400/mo in Orem, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 98 in Orem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls vs $466/month in Orem. 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 90 in Great Falls and 92 in Orem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $368 in Orem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 95 in Orem. 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 $55,800 in Great Falls and $86,000 in Orem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 and $73,504 respectively. Orem 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 $2,007/month in Orem. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Orem, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 65 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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