City Comparison

Great Falls vs Provo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Great Falls

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

Provo

Utah
104
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$51,048
Median Income

The Verdict

15.4%

Great Falls is 15.4% less expensive than Provo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Great Falls would need approximately $88,636 in Provo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Great Falls
112
Provo
Groceries
99
Great Falls
98
Provo
Utilities
90
Great Falls
87
Provo
Transportation
95
Great Falls
101
Provo
Healthcare
92
Great Falls
97
Provo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has the same purchasing power as $88,636 in Provo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Provo equals $63,462 in Great Falls.

Living in Great Falls vs Provo

Housing Costs

Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Provo's 112, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $380,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,300/mo in Provo, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 98 in Provo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls vs $466/month in Provo. 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 87 in Provo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $348 in Provo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 97 in Provo. 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 $51,048 in Provo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 and $49,085 respectively. Great Falls residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,302/month to housing in Great Falls vs $1,191/month in Provo. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Provo, median rent of $1,300/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 15.4% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,636 in Provo, based on the cost of living difference.
Great Falls's housing index is 82 with median homes at $325,000, while Provo's is 112 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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