Miles City, MT vs Denver, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Denver, CO has a modeled overall cost index 52.6% higher than Miles City, MT.

Miles City, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,610 / month
Denver, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$2,190 / 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 Miles City, MT and Denver, 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $3,699/month in Denver, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $194,394 in Denver, CO

Regional cost estimates: Miles City, MT uses Denver, CO. Denver, CO uses Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 52.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$3,699
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$44.4K
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.

Miles City, MT

Population:8K
Cost Index:
72.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$229K

Denver, CO

Population:716K
Cost Index:
110.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$513K

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Miles City, MT

The Treasure State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Denver, CO

The Centennial State

716K
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Semi-arid

Notable Facts

  • •Mile-high city (5,280 ft)
  • •Outdoor recreation hub
  • •Major cannabis market

Major Industries

AerospaceTechnologyEnergyTourism

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Miles City, MT vs Denver, 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.

Housing
↑ 69.5%
Miles City, MT
$2,477
Denver, CO
$4,199
Difference
$1,722
more
Other
↑ 52.6%
Miles City, MT
$1,503
Denver, CO
$2,294
Difference
$790
more
Transportation
↑ 52.6%
Miles City, MT
$1,238
Denver, CO
$1,889
Difference
$651
more
Groceries
↑ 23.5%
Miles City, MT
$1,077
Denver, CO
$1,330
Difference
$253
more
Healthcare
↑ 23.5%
Miles City, MT
$661
Denver, CO
$817
Difference
$156
more
All Utilities
↑ 23.5%
Miles City, MT
$543
Denver, CO
$671
Difference
$128
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Denver, CO: Denver Head Tax ($5.75/mo, negligible)$69.00/yr (0.0%)

Miles City, MT has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,110
To$1,720
↑ $610
1 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,840
↑ $610
2 Bed
From$1,610
To$2,190
↑ $580
3 Bed
From$2,160
To$2,870
↑ $710
Miles City, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,230/mo

Denver, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,620–$2,540/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 Miles City, MT
$11,199
Monthly in Denver, CO
$3,699
Difference

Home Values

Miles City
Denver
$229K
Median Value
$513K
↑ +0.5%
YoY Change
↓ -4.2%
↑ +38.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +13%
$229K
Price Range
$352K - $933K

Homes in Denver are 124% more expensive than Miles City

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

Miles City, 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

Denver, 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

Miles City, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

Denver, 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.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Miles City
Denver
55 Moderate
Air Quality
55 Moderate
35.2%
Good Air Days
35.2%
95 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Miles City, MT to Denver, 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 Denver, CO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Miles City, 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 Miles City to Denver moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Miles City, MT vs Denver, CO

How do the cost estimates for Miles City, MT and Denver, CO compare?

Denver, CO has a modeled overall cost index 52.6% higher than Miles City, 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 Miles City, MT, the model estimates $194,394 in Denver, 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 Miles City, MT and Denver, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,610/month in Miles City, MT and $2,190/month in Denver, 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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