Columbia Falls, MT vs Polson, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Polson, MT has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Columbia Falls, MT.

Columbia Falls, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,600 / month
Polson, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,450 / 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 Polson, 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 Columbia Falls, MT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $19.76/month in Polson, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,237 in Polson, MT

Regional cost estimates: Columbia Falls, MT uses Spokane, WA. Polson, MT uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$19.76

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$237

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

Polson, MT

Population:6K

Cost Index:

79.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$541K

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Columbia Falls, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Polson, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Columbia Falls, MT vs Polson, 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	Columbia Falls, MT	Polson, MT	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,920/mo	$1,926/mo	↑ $6.03more	0.3%
Transportation	$1,751/mo	$1,757/mo	↑ $5.50more	0.3%
Other	$1,420/mo	$1,425/mo	↑ $4.46more	0.3%
Groceries	$1,090/mo	$1,092/mo	↑ $1.71more	0.2%
Healthcare	$832/mo	$834/mo	↑ $1.31more	0.2%
All Utilities	$486/mo	$487/mo	↑ $0.76more	0.2%

Housing

↑ 0.3%

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,920

Polson, MT

$1,926

Difference

$6.03

Transportation

↑ 0.3%

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,751

Polson, MT

$1,757

Difference

$5.50

Other

↑ 0.3%

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,420

Polson, MT

$1,425

Difference

$4.46

Groceries

↑ 0.2%

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,090

Polson, MT

$1,092

Difference

$1.71

Healthcare

↑ 0.2%

Columbia Falls, MT

$832

Polson, MT

$834

Difference

$1.31

All Utilities

↑ 0.2%

Columbia Falls, MT

$486

Polson, MT

$487

Difference

$0.76

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,200

To$1,100

↓ $100

1 Bed

From$1,220

To$1,110

↓ $110

2 Bed

From$1,600

To$1,450

↓ $150

3 Bed

From$2,100

To$1,870

↓ $230

Columbia Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,220–$1,220/mo

Polson, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/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

$7,520

Monthly in Polson, MT

$19.76

Difference

Home Values

Columbia Falls

Polson

$582K

Median Value

$541K

↓ -1%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +58.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +56.2%

Homes in Polson are 7% less expensive than Columbia Falls

Calculate payment - Columbia Falls Calculate payment - Polson

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

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

Polson, 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

Columbia Falls, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.8%

Polson, 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

Columbia Falls

Polson

38 Good

Air Quality

38 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

76.5%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

💨

Top Hazards

💨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

Before moving from Columbia Falls, MT to Polson, MT

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Polson, MT 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.
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 Columbia Falls to Polson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Columbia Falls, MT vs Polson, MT

How do the cost estimates for Columbia Falls, MT and Polson, MT compare?

Polson, MT has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% 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 $150,237 in Polson, 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 Columbia Falls, MT and Polson, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,600/month in Columbia Falls, MT and $1,450/month in Polson, 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.

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