Great Falls vs Sandy
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Great Falls
Sandy
The Verdict
Great Falls is 31.2% less expensive than Sandy overall. A household earning $75,000 in Great Falls would need approximately $109,091 in Sandy 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 Sandy.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sandy equals $51,563 in Great Falls.
Living in Great Falls vs Sandy
Housing Costs
Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Sandy's 189, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $630,000. The $305,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,824 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 Sandy, a monthly difference of $675.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 100 in Sandy. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls vs $475/month in Sandy. 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 88 in Sandy. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $352 in Sandy. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 95 in Sandy. 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 $111,200 in Sandy. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 and $86,875 respectively. Sandy 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 $2,595/month in Sandy. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Sandy, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 107 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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