Polson, MT vs Manitou Springs, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Manitou Springs, CO has a modeled overall cost index 16.6% higher than Polson, MT.

Polson, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,450 / month
Manitou Springs, CO · 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Polson, MT and Manitou Springs, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $267/month in Manitou Springs, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,198 in Manitou Springs, CO

Regional cost estimates: Polson, MT uses Spokane, WA. Manitou Springs, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 16.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$267
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.2K
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.

Polson, MT

Population:6K
Cost Index:
79.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$541K

Manitou Springs, CO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
92.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$530K

Planning the move to Manitou Springs?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Polson, MT

The Treasure State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Manitou Springs, CO

The Centennial State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Polson, MT vs Manitou Springs, 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
↑ 32.9%
Polson, MT
$1,921
Manitou Springs, CO
$2,553
Difference
$632
more
Transportation
↓ 28.0%
Polson, MT
$1,752
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,261
Difference
$491
less
Other
↑ 25.1%
Polson, MT
$1,421
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,778
Difference
$356
more
Healthcare
↓ 21.2%
Polson, MT
$832
Manitou Springs, CO
$655
Difference
$177
less
Groceries
↓ 4.0%
Polson, MT
$1,089
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,046
Difference
$43.34
less
All Utilities
↓ 2.2%
Polson, MT
$485
Manitou Springs, CO
$475
Difference
$10.63
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,100
To$890
↓ $210
1 Bed
From$1,110
To$1,090
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,450
To$1,290
↓ $160
3 Bed
From$1,870
To$1,790
↓ $80.00
Polson, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/mo

Manitou Springs, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$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 Polson, MT
$7,767
Monthly in Manitou Springs, CO
$267
Difference

Home Values

Polson
Manitou Springs
$541K
Median Value
$530K
↓ -0.7%
YoY Change
↓ -0.7%
↑ +56.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.5%

Homes in Manitou Springs are 2% less expensive than Polson

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

Polson, 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

Manitou Springs, 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

Polson, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

Manitou Springs, 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.

Environment

Polson
Manitou Springs
38 Good
Air Quality
49 Good
76.5%
Good Air Days
55.2%
90 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
💨
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
9 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
23 days
Heat Days >95°F
9 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Polson, MT vs Manitou Springs, CO

How do the cost estimates for Polson, MT and Manitou Springs, CO compare?

Manitou Springs, CO has a modeled overall cost index 16.6% higher than Polson, 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 Polson, MT, the model estimates $153,198 in Manitou Springs, 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 Polson, MT and Manitou Springs, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,450/month in Polson, MT and $1,290/month in Manitou Springs, 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

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Polson, MT on a $150.0K salary

Similar cost to Manitou Springs, CO

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison