Great Falls vs Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Great Falls
Salem
The Verdict
Great Falls is 15.4% less expensive than Salem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Great Falls would need approximately $88,636 in Salem 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 $88,636 in Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Salem equals $63,462 in Great Falls.
Living in Great Falls vs Salem
Housing Costs
Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Salem's 118, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $400,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,275/mo in Salem, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 100 in Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls vs $475/month in Salem. 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 Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $388 in Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 100 in Salem. 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 $66,400 in Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 and $63,846 respectively. Salem 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 $1,549/month in Salem. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Salem, median rent of $1,275/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 36 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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