Lewistown, MT vs Woodlake, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Woodlake, CA has a modeled overall cost index 22.9% higher than Lewistown, MT.

Lewistown, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,440 / month
Woodlake, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,290 / 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 Lewistown, MT and Woodlake, 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: $556/month in Woodlake, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,676 in Woodlake, CA

Regional cost estimates: Lewistown, MT uses Spokane, WA. Woodlake, CA uses Fresno, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 22.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$556
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.7K
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.

Lewistown, MT

Population:6K
Cost Index:
76.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$272K

Woodlake, CA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
93.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$325K

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Lewistown, MT

The Treasure State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Woodlake, CA

The Golden State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lewistown, MT vs Woodlake, 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
↑ 27.4%
Lewistown, MT
$1,908
Woodlake, CA
$2,431
Difference
$522
more
Other
↑ 28.1%
Lewistown, MT
$1,412
Woodlake, CA
$1,809
Difference
$397
more
Healthcare
↓ 35.5%
Lewistown, MT
$843
Woodlake, CA
$544
Difference
$299
less
Transportation
↓ 12.8%
Lewistown, MT
$1,741
Woodlake, CA
$1,518
Difference
$223
less
All Utilities
↑ 16.8%
Lewistown, MT
$492
Woodlake, CA
$574
Difference
$82.52
more
Groceries
↑ 6.9%
Lewistown, MT
$1,104
Woodlake, CA
$1,180
Difference
$76.43
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,080
To$980
↓ $100
1 Bed
From$1,100
To$990
↓ $110
2 Bed
From$1,440
To$1,290
↓ $150
3 Bed
From$1,980
To$1,780
↓ $200
Lewistown, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,100/mo

Woodlake, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $990–$990/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 Lewistown, MT
$8,056
Monthly in Woodlake, CA
$556
Difference

Home Values

Lewistown
Woodlake
$272K
Median Value
$325K
↑ +5.4%
YoY Change
↑ +2.8%
↑ +65.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.7%

Homes in Woodlake are 20% more expensive than Lewistown

Calculate payment - LewistownCalculate payment - Woodlake

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

Lewistown, 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

Woodlake, 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

Lewistown, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

Woodlake, 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

Lewistown
Woodlake
38 Good
Air Quality
67 Moderate
76.5%
Good Air Days
19.4%
90 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
💨
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌡
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
99 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
99 days

Before moving from Lewistown, MT to Woodlake, 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 Woodlake, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lewistown, 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 Lewistown to Woodlake moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lewistown, MT vs Woodlake, CA

How do the cost estimates for Lewistown, MT and Woodlake, CA compare?

Woodlake, CA has a modeled overall cost index 22.9% higher than Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, MT, the model estimates $156,676 in Woodlake, 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 Lewistown, MT and Woodlake, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,440/month in Lewistown, MT and $1,290/month in Woodlake, 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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