Pocatello, ID vs Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Great Falls, MT has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than Pocatello, ID.

Pocatello, ID · modeled 2BR rent: $1,095 / month
Great Falls, MT · 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 Pocatello, ID and Great 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 Pocatello, ID

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $616/month in Great Falls, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,392 in Great Falls, MT

Regional cost estimates: Pocatello, ID uses Boise, ID. Great Falls, MT uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$616

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$7.4K

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.

Pocatello, ID

Population:58K

Cost Index:

92.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$321K

Great Falls, MT

Population:60K

Cost Index:

91.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$317K

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Pocatello, ID

The Gem State

58K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Idaho, this city has a population of 58K residents.

Great Falls, MT

The Treasure State

60K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 60K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Pocatello, ID vs Great 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	Pocatello, ID	Great Falls, MT	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,236/mo	$1,937/mo	↑ $702more	56.8%
Housing	$2,508/mo	$2,124/mo	↓ $384less	15.3%
Healthcare	$642/mo	$858/mo	↑ $217more	33.8%
Groceries	$975/mo	$1,124/mo	↑ $149more	15.3%
Other	$1,655/mo	$1,571/mo	↓ $83.42less	5.0%
All Utilities	$484/mo	$501/mo	↑ $16.58more	3.4%

Transportation

↑ 56.8%

Pocatello, ID

$1,236

Great Falls, MT

$1,937

Difference

$702

Housing

↓ 15.3%

Pocatello, ID

$2,508

Great Falls, MT

$2,124

Difference

$384

less

Healthcare

↑ 33.8%

Pocatello, ID

$642

Great Falls, MT

$858

Difference

$217

Groceries

↑ 15.3%

Pocatello, ID

$975

Great Falls, MT

$1,124

Difference

$149

Other

↓ 5.0%

Pocatello, ID

$1,655

Great Falls, MT

$1,571

Difference

$83.42

less

All Utilities

↑ 3.4%

Pocatello, ID

$484

Great Falls, MT

$501

Difference

$16.58

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$755

To$960

↑ $205

1 Bed

From$835

To$980

↑ $145

2 Bed

From$1,095

To$1,290

↑ $195

3 Bed

From$1,525

To$1,790

↑ $265

Pocatello, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$880/mo

Great Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$1,090/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 Pocatello, ID

$8,116

Monthly in Great Falls, MT

$616

Difference

Home Values

Pocatello

Great Falls

$321K

Median Value

$317K

↓ -0.2%

YoY Change

↑ +4.8%

↑ +44.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +59%

$319K - $324K

Price Range

$279K - $380K

Homes in Great Falls are 1% less expensive than Pocatello

Calculate payment - Pocatello Calculate payment - Great Falls

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $6.7K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$556

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

4.4%

Rate difference

Pocatello, ID

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Idaho State Tax

Effective: 10.8%

$16.2K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 35.5%

$53.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,062/month

$96.7K

Great 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

Pocatello, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:0.7%

Great 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

Pocatello

Great Falls

44 Good

Air Quality

38 Good

62.8%

Good Air Days

76.5%

88 Moderate

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

🔥💨

Top Hazards

💨

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

Before moving from Pocatello, ID to Great 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 Great Falls, MT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Pocatello, ID. 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 Pocatello to Great Falls moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Pocatello, ID vs Great Falls, MT

How do the cost estimates for Pocatello, ID and Great Falls, MT compare?

Great Falls, MT has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than Pocatello, ID. 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 Pocatello, ID, the model estimates $157,392 in Great 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 Pocatello, ID and Great Falls, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,095/month in Pocatello, ID and $1,290/month in Great 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 Idaho and Montana on TaxTakeHome.com