Biggs, CA vs East Helena, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

East Helena, MT has a modeled overall cost index 24.2% lower than Biggs, CA.

Biggs, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,770 / month
East Helena, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,550 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Biggs, CA and East Helena, MT using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Biggs, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,064/month in East Helena, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,231 in East Helena, MT

Regional cost estimates: Biggs, CA uses Sacramento, CA. East Helena, MT uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 24.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,064

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.8K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Biggs, CA

Population:2K

Cost Index:

96.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$335K

East Helena, MT

Population:2K

Cost Index:

73.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$414K

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Biggs, CA

The Golden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 2K residents.

East Helena, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Biggs, CA vs East Helena, MT

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Biggs, CA	East Helena, MT	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,762/mo	$1,627/mo	↓ $1,135less	41.1%
Other	$1,514/mo	$1,204/mo	↓ $310less	20.5%
Transportation	$1,190/mo	$1,484/mo	↑ $294more	24.7%
Healthcare	$571/mo	$733/mo	↑ $163more	28.5%
All Utilities	$488/mo	$428/mo	↓ $60.34less	12.4%
Groceries	$976/mo	$960/mo	↓ $15.34less	1.6%

Housing

↓ 41.1%

Biggs, CA

$2,762

East Helena, MT

$1,627

Difference

$1,135

less

Other

↓ 20.5%

Biggs, CA

$1,514

East Helena, MT

$1,204

Difference

$310

less

Transportation

↑ 24.7%

Biggs, CA

$1,190

East Helena, MT

$1,484

Difference

$294

Healthcare

↑ 28.5%

Biggs, CA

$571

East Helena, MT

$733

Difference

$163

All Utilities

↓ 12.4%

Biggs, CA

$488

East Helena, MT

$428

Difference

$60.34

less

Groceries

↓ 1.6%

Biggs, CA

$976

East Helena, MT

$960

Difference

$15.34

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,260

To$1,070

↓ $190

1 Bed

From$1,380

To$1,260

↓ $120

2 Bed

From$1,770

To$1,550

↓ $220

3 Bed

From$2,460

To$2,100

↓ $360

Biggs, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,380–$1,380/mo

East Helena, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,260/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Biggs, CA

$6,436

Monthly in East Helena, MT

$1,064

Difference

Home Values

Biggs

East Helena

$335K

Median Value

$414K

↑ +2.7%

YoY Change

↑ +0.4%

↑ +16.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +40.9%

Homes in East Helena are 24% more expensive than Biggs

Calculate payment - Biggs Calculate payment - East Helena

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.1K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$88.34

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.7%

Rate difference

Biggs, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

East Helena, MT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Montana State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.1%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,618/month

$103.4K

Additional Tax Information

Biggs, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

East Helena, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Biggs

East Helena

51 Moderate

Air Quality

38 Good

49.7%

Good Air Days

76.5%

98 High

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

🌊☀🫨

Top Hazards

💨

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

69 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

69 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

Before moving from Biggs, CA to East Helena, MT

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in East Helena, MT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Biggs, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Biggs to East Helena moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to East Helena, MT by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Biggs, CA vs East Helena, MT

How do the cost estimates for Biggs, CA and East Helena, MT compare?

East Helena, MT has a modeled overall cost index 24.2% lower than Biggs, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Biggs, CA, the model estimates $137,231 in East Helena, MT. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Biggs, CA and East Helena, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,770/month in Biggs, CA and $1,550/month in East Helena, MT. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between California and Montana on TaxTakeHome.com