Paonia, CO vs Big Timber, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Big Timber, MT has a modeled overall cost index 8.5% lower than Paonia, CO.

Paonia, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,200 / month
Big Timber, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / 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 Paonia, CO and Big Timber, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $552/month in Big Timber, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,374 in Big Timber, MT

Regional cost estimates: Paonia, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Big Timber, MT uses Boise, ID. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 8.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$552
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.6K
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.

Paonia, CO

Population:1K
Cost Index:
76.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$452K

Big Timber, MT

Population:2K
Cost Index:
70.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$429K

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Paonia, CO

The Centennial State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Big Timber, MT

The Treasure State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Paonia, CO vs Big Timber, 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.

Other
↓ 11.9%
Paonia, CO
$1,670
Big Timber, MT
$1,470
Difference
$199
less
Housing
↓ 7.1%
Paonia, CO
$2,398
Big Timber, MT
$2,228
Difference
$170
less
Transportation
↓ 7.3%
Paonia, CO
$1,184
Big Timber, MT
$1,098
Difference
$86.36
less
Groceries
↓ 7.6%
Paonia, CO
$1,081
Big Timber, MT
$999
Difference
$82.22
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.9%
Paonia, CO
$677
Big Timber, MT
$657
Difference
$19.77
less
All Utilities
↑ 1.1%
Paonia, CO
$491
Big Timber, MT
$496
Difference
$5.36
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$900
To$870
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$980
To$910
↓ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,160
↓ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,680
To$1,540
↓ $140
Paonia, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$980/mo

Big Timber, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/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 Paonia, CO
$6,948
Monthly in Big Timber, MT
$552
Difference

Home Values

Paonia
Big Timber
$452K
Median Value
$429K
↑ +3.8%
YoY Change
↑ +6.5%
↑ +36.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +64.2%

Homes in Big Timber are 5% less expensive than Paonia

Calculate payment - PaoniaCalculate payment - Big Timber

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$247
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Paonia, 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

Big Timber, 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

Paonia, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

Big Timber, 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

Paonia
Big Timber
49 Good
Air Quality
44 Good
55.2%
Good Air Days
62.8%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
88 Moderate
🔥🌊🌪
Top Hazards
🔥💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
9 days
Heat Days >95°F
49 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
9 days
Heat Days >95°F
49 days

Before moving from Paonia, CO to Big Timber, MT

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Big Timber, MT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Paonia, CO. 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 Paonia to Big Timber moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Paonia, CO vs Big Timber, MT

How do the cost estimates for Paonia, CO and Big Timber, MT compare?

Big Timber, MT has a modeled overall cost index 8.5% lower than Paonia, CO. 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 Paonia, CO, the model estimates $143,374 in Big Timber, 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 Paonia, CO and Big Timber, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,200/month in Paonia, CO and $1,160/month in Big Timber, 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 Colorado and Montana on TaxTakeHome.com

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