Salida, CO vs Columbia Falls, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Columbia Falls, MT has a modeled overall cost index 12.9% lower than Salida, CO.

Salida, CO · modeled 2BR rent: $1,620 / month
Columbia Falls, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,600 / 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 Salida, CO and Columbia 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 Salida, CO

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $162/month in Columbia Falls, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,053 in Columbia Falls, MT

Regional cost estimates: Salida, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Columbia Falls, MT uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$162

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.9K

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.

Salida, CO

Population:6K

Cost Index:

90.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$689K

Columbia Falls, MT

Population:6K

Cost Index:

79.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$582K

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Salida, CO

The Centennial State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Columbia Falls, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Salida, CO vs Columbia 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	Salida, CO	Columbia Falls, MT	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,459/mo	$1,878/mo	↓ $581less	23.6%
Transportation	$1,214/mo	$1,713/mo	↑ $499more	41.1%
Other	$1,712/mo	$1,390/mo	↓ $322less	18.8%
Healthcare	$637/mo	$814/mo	↑ $178more	27.9%
Groceries	$1,016/mo	$1,067/mo	↑ $50.15more	4.9%
All Utilities	$461/mo	$475/mo	↑ $13.91more	3.0%

Housing

↓ 23.6%

Salida, CO

$2,459

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,878

Difference

$581

less

Transportation

↑ 41.1%

Salida, CO

$1,214

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,713

Difference

$499

Other

↓ 18.8%

Salida, CO

$1,712

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,390

Difference

$322

less

Healthcare

↑ 27.9%

Salida, CO

$637

Columbia Falls, MT

$814

Difference

$178

Groceries

↑ 4.9%

Salida, CO

$1,016

Columbia Falls, MT

$1,067

Difference

$50.15

All Utilities

↑ 3.0%

Salida, CO

$461

Columbia Falls, MT

$475

Difference

$13.91

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,230

To$1,200

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$1,240

To$1,220

↓ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,620

To$1,600

↓ $20.00

3 Bed

From$2,250

To$2,100

↓ $150

Salida, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,240–$1,240/mo

Columbia Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,220–$1,220/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 Salida, CO

$7,338

Monthly in Columbia Falls, MT

$162

Difference

Home Values

Salida

Columbia Falls

$689K

Median Value

$582K

↑ +0.3%

YoY Change

↓ -1%

↑ +37.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +58.4%

Homes in Columbia Falls are 16% less expensive than Salida

Calculate payment - Salida Calculate payment - Columbia Falls

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

Salida, 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

Columbia 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

Salida, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%

Property Tax:0.5%

Columbia 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

Salida

Columbia Falls

49 Good

Air Quality

38 Good

55.2%

Good Air Days

76.5%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

🔥🌊🌪

Top Hazards

💨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Salida, CO vs Columbia Falls, MT

How do the cost estimates for Salida, CO and Columbia Falls, MT compare?

Columbia Falls, MT has a modeled overall cost index 12.9% lower than Salida, 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 Salida, CO, the model estimates $148,053 in Columbia 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 Salida, CO and Columbia Falls, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,620/month in Salida, CO and $1,600/month in Columbia 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 Colorado and Montana on TaxTakeHome.com

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