Columbia Falls, MT vs New Castle, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

New Castle, CO has a modeled overall cost index 4.6% higher than Columbia Falls, MT.

Columbia Falls, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,600 / month
New Castle, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,620 / 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 Columbia Falls, MT and New Castle, CO 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $277/month in New Castle, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,675 in New Castle, CO

Regional cost estimates: Columbia Falls, MT uses Spokane, WA. New Castle, CO uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$277
Savings
Annual Impact
$3.3K
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.

Columbia Falls, MT

Population:6K
Cost Index:
79.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$582K

New Castle, CO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$636K

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Columbia Falls, MT

The Treasure State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 6K residents.

New Castle, CO

The Centennial State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Columbia Falls, MT vs New Castle, CO

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.

Transportation
↓ 30.5%
Columbia Falls, MT
$1,751
New Castle, CO
$1,217
Difference
$534
less
Housing
↑ 26.8%
Columbia Falls, MT
$1,920
New Castle, CO
$2,435
Difference
$515
more
Healthcare
↓ 27.1%
Columbia Falls, MT
$832
New Castle, CO
$607
Difference
$226
less
Groceries
↓ 9.4%
Columbia Falls, MT
$1,090
New Castle, CO
$988
Difference
$102
less
Other
↑ 4.0%
Columbia Falls, MT
$1,420
New Castle, CO
$1,478
Difference
$57.36
more
All Utilities
↑ 2.6%
Columbia Falls, MT
$486
New Castle, CO
$498
Difference
$12.55
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,200
To$1,230
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,220
To$1,230
↑ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,600
To$1,620
↑ $20.00
3 Bed
From$2,100
To$2,250
↑ $150
Columbia Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,220–$1,220/mo

New Castle, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,230/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 Columbia Falls, MT
$7,223
Monthly in New Castle, CO
$277
Difference

Home Values

Columbia Falls
New Castle
$582K
Median Value
$636K
↓ -1%
YoY Change
↑ +4.9%
↑ +58.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +55.8%

Homes in New Castle are 9% more expensive than Columbia Falls

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$247
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Columbia Falls, 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

New Castle, CO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Colorado State Tax
Effective: 4.4%
$6.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.1%
$43.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,866/month
$106.4K

Additional Tax Information

Columbia Falls, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

New Castle, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

💡 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

Columbia Falls
New Castle
38 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
76.5%
Good Air Days
35.2%
90 Moderate
Climate Risk
95 High
💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Columbia Falls, MT to New Castle, CO

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in New Castle, CO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Columbia Falls, MT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Columbia Falls to New Castle moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to New Castle, CO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Columbia Falls, MT vs New Castle, CO

How do the cost estimates for Columbia Falls, MT and New Castle, CO compare?

New Castle, CO has a modeled overall cost index 4.6% higher than Columbia Falls, MT. 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 Columbia Falls, MT, the model estimates $146,675 in New Castle, CO. 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 Columbia Falls, MT and New Castle, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,600/month in Columbia Falls, MT and $1,620/month in New Castle, CO. 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 Montana and Colorado on TaxTakeHome.com

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