City Comparison

Great Falls vs Palm Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Great Falls

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

Palm Bay

Florida
96
Average
$315,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$72,600
Median Income

The Verdict

8.3%

Living in Great Falls costs 8.3% less than Palm Bay. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Great Falls, you would need $81,818 in Palm Bay.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Great Falls
90
Palm Bay
Groceries
99
Great Falls
101
Palm Bay
Utilities
90
Great Falls
97
Palm Bay
Transportation
95
Great Falls
102
Palm Bay
Healthcare
92
Great Falls
93
Palm Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has the same purchasing power as $81,818 in Palm Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Palm Bay equals $68,750 in Great Falls.

Living in Great Falls vs Palm Bay

Housing Costs

Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Palm Bay's 90, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $315,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,600/mo in Palm Bay, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 101 in Palm Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls vs $480/month in Palm Bay. 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 97 in Palm Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $388 in Palm Bay. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 93 in Palm Bay. 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 $72,600 in Palm Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 and $75,625 respectively. Palm Bay 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 $1,694/month in Palm Bay. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Palm Bay, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 8.3% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,818 in Palm Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Great Falls's housing index is 82 with median homes at $325,000, while Palm Bay's is 90 with median homes at $315,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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