Red Lodge, MT vs Ponderay, ID: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ponderay, ID has a modeled overall cost index 16.9% higher than Red Lodge, MT.

Red Lodge, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / month
Ponderay, ID · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / 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 Red Lodge, MT and Ponderay, ID 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: $1,934/month in Ponderay, ID

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $173,210 in Ponderay, ID

Regional cost estimates: Red Lodge, MT uses Boise, ID. Ponderay, ID uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 16.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,934
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$23.2K
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.

Red Lodge, MT

Population:3K
Cost Index:
72.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$490K

Ponderay, ID

Population:2K
Cost Index:
84.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$474K

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Red Lodge, MT

The Treasure State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Ponderay, ID

The Gem State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Red Lodge, MT vs Ponderay, ID

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.

Transportation
↑ 86.9%
Red Lodge, MT
$1,191
Ponderay, ID
$2,225
Difference
$1,034
more
Healthcare
↑ 46.0%
Red Lodge, MT
$702
Ponderay, ID
$1,025
Difference
$323
more
Groceries
↑ 25.8%
Red Lodge, MT
$1,067
Ponderay, ID
$1,343
Difference
$276
more
Other
↑ 13.2%
Red Lodge, MT
$1,594
Ponderay, ID
$1,805
Difference
$210
more
All Utilities
↑ 12.9%
Red Lodge, MT
$530
Ponderay, ID
$598
Difference
$68.41
more
Housing
↑ 0.9%
Red Lodge, MT
$2,417
Ponderay, ID
$2,439
Difference
$22.36
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$920
To$940
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$960
To$950
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,240
To$1,240
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,700
To$1,720
↑ $20.00
Red Lodge, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$960/mo

Ponderay, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$950/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 Red Lodge, MT
$9,434
Monthly in Ponderay, ID
$1,934
Difference

Home Values

Red Lodge
Ponderay
$490K
Median Value
$474K
↑ +4.8%
YoY Change
↓ -3.1%
↑ +62.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +7.1%

Homes in Ponderay are 3% less expensive than Red Lodge

Calculate payment - Red LodgeCalculate payment - Ponderay

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $6.7K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$556
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.4%
Rate difference

Red Lodge, 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

Ponderay, 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

Additional Tax Information

Red Lodge, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

Ponderay, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%
Property Tax:0.7%

💡 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

Red Lodge
Ponderay
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 Red Lodge, MT to Ponderay, ID

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Ponderay, ID for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Red Lodge, 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 Red Lodge to Ponderay moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Red Lodge, MT vs Ponderay, ID

How do the cost estimates for Red Lodge, MT and Ponderay, ID compare?

Ponderay, ID has a modeled overall cost index 16.9% higher than Red Lodge, 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 Red Lodge, MT, the model estimates $173,210 in Ponderay, ID. 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 Red Lodge, MT and Ponderay, ID?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,240/month in Red Lodge, MT and $1,240/month in Ponderay, ID. 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 Idaho on TaxTakeHome.com

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