Escalon, CA vs Columbia Falls, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Columbia Falls, MT has a modeled overall cost index 21.6% lower than Escalon, CA.

Escalon, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,720 / month
Columbia Falls, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,600 / 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 Escalon, CA and Columbia Falls, 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 Escalon, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $797/month in Columbia Falls, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,441 in Columbia Falls, MT

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

Overall Cost

↓ 21.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$797

Savings

Annual Impact

$9.6K

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.

Escalon, CA

Population:7K

Cost Index:

101.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$586K

Columbia Falls, MT

Population:6K

Cost Index:

79.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$582K

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Escalon, CA

The Golden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Columbia Falls, 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: Escalon, CA vs Columbia Falls, 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	Escalon, CA	Columbia Falls, MT	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,550/mo	$1,716/mo	↓ $834less	32.7%
Other	$1,580/mo	$1,270/mo	↓ $310less	19.6%
Healthcare	$478/mo	$744/mo	↑ $266more	55.8%
Transportation	$1,352/mo	$1,565/mo	↑ $214more	15.8%
All Utilities	$505/mo	$434/mo	↓ $70.34less	13.9%
Groceries	$1,037/mo	$974/mo	↓ $62.32less	6.0%

Housing

↓ 32.7%

Escalon, CA

$2,550

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,716

Difference

$834

less

Other

↓ 19.6%

Escalon, CA

$1,580

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,270

Difference

$310

less

Healthcare

↑ 55.8%

Escalon, CA

$478

Columbia Falls, MT

$744

Difference

$266

Transportation

↑ 15.8%

Escalon, CA

$1,352

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,565

Difference

$214

All Utilities

↓ 13.9%

Escalon, CA

$505

Columbia Falls, MT

$434

Difference

$70.34

less

Groceries

↓ 6.0%

Escalon, CA

$1,037

Columbia Falls, MT

$974

Difference

$62.32

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,270

To$1,200

↓ $70.00

1 Bed

From$1,380

To$1,220

↓ $160

2 Bed

From$1,720

To$1,600

↓ $120

3 Bed

From$2,390

To$2,100

↓ $290

Escalon, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,380–$1,380/mo

Columbia Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,220–$1,220/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 Escalon, CA

$6,703

Monthly in Columbia Falls, MT

$797

Difference

Home Values

Escalon

Columbia Falls

$586K

Median Value

$582K

↑ +0.2%

YoY Change

↓ -1%

↑ +21.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +58.4%

Homes in Columbia Falls are 1% less expensive than Escalon

Calculate payment - Escalon Calculate payment - Columbia Falls

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

Escalon, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

Escalon, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Columbia Falls, 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

Escalon

Columbia Falls

53 Moderate

Air Quality

38 Good

45.4%

Good Air Days

76.5%

97 High

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

🌊☀🫨

Top Hazards

💨

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

67 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

67 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

Before moving from Escalon, CA to Columbia Falls, MT

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Columbia Falls, MT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Escalon, 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 Escalon to Columbia Falls moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Escalon, CA vs Columbia Falls, MT

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

Columbia Falls, MT has a modeled overall cost index 21.6% lower than Escalon, 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 Escalon, CA, the model estimates $140,441 in Columbia Falls, 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 Escalon, CA and Columbia Falls, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,720/month in Escalon, CA and $1,600/month in Columbia Falls, 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