Hamilton, MT vs Fort Bragg, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fort Bragg, CA has a modeled overall cost index 44.5% higher than Hamilton, MT.

Hamilton, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,410 / month
Fort Bragg, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,700 / 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 Hamilton, MT and Fort Bragg, CA 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 extra cost: $2,677/month in Fort Bragg, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $182,124 in Fort Bragg, CA

Regional cost estimates: Hamilton, MT uses Spokane, WA. Fort Bragg, CA uses San Francisco, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 44.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,677
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$32.1K
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.

Hamilton, MT

Population:5K
Cost Index:
76.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$508K

Fort Bragg, CA

Population:7K
Cost Index:
111.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$553K

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Hamilton, MT

The Treasure State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Fort Bragg, CA

The Golden State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hamilton, MT vs Fort Bragg, CA

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.

Housing
↑ 194.4%
Hamilton, MT
$1,911
Fort Bragg, CA
$5,626
Difference
$3,715
more
Transportation
↓ 20.8%
Hamilton, MT
$1,743
Fort Bragg, CA
$1,381
Difference
$362
less
Healthcare
↓ 28.4%
Hamilton, MT
$841
Fort Bragg, CA
$602
Difference
$239
less
Other
↓ 15.2%
Hamilton, MT
$1,414
Fort Bragg, CA
$1,199
Difference
$214
less
Groceries
↓ 10.3%
Hamilton, MT
$1,101
Fort Bragg, CA
$987
Difference
$114
less
All Utilities
↓ 22.2%
Hamilton, MT
$491
Fort Bragg, CA
$382
Difference
$109
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,110
To$1,260
↑ $150
1 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,300
↑ $170
2 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,700
↑ $290
3 Bed
From$1,960
To$2,360
↑ $400
Hamilton, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,130–$1,130/mo

Fort Bragg, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$1,300/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 Hamilton, MT
$10,177
Monthly in Fort Bragg, CA
$2,677
Difference

Home Values

Hamilton
Fort Bragg
$508K
Median Value
$553K
↓ -0.9%
YoY Change
↓ -0.9%
↑ +48.3%
5-Year Change
↓ -3.6%

Homes in Fort Bragg are 9% more expensive than Hamilton

Calculate payment - HamiltonCalculate payment - Fort Bragg

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$88.34
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

Hamilton, 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

Fort Bragg, 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

Additional Tax Information

Hamilton, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

Fort Bragg, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
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

Hamilton
Fort Bragg
38 Good
Air Quality
33 Good
76.5%
Good Air Days
76%
90 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
💨
Top Hazards
🌊🫨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.0°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
1 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.0°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
1 days

Before moving from Hamilton, MT to Fort Bragg, CA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fort Bragg, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hamilton, 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 Hamilton to Fort Bragg moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fort Bragg, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hamilton, MT vs Fort Bragg, CA

How do the cost estimates for Hamilton, MT and Fort Bragg, CA compare?

Fort Bragg, CA has a modeled overall cost index 44.5% higher than Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, MT, the model estimates $182,124 in Fort Bragg, CA. 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 Hamilton, MT and Fort Bragg, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,410/month in Hamilton, MT and $1,700/month in Fort Bragg, CA. 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 California on TaxTakeHome.com

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