Sidney, MT vs Orange Cove, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Orange Cove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 34.5% higher than Sidney, MT.

Sidney, MT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,310 / month
Orange Cove, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,360 / 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 Sidney, MT and Orange Cove, CA 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: $1,890/month in Orange Cove, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $172,678 in Orange Cove, CA

Regional cost estimates: Sidney, MT uses Denver, CO. Orange Cove, CA uses Fresno, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 34.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,890
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$22.7K
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.

Sidney, MT

Population:6K
Cost Index:
70.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$257K

Orange Cove, CA

Population:9K
Cost Index:
94.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$293K

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Sidney, MT

The Treasure State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Orange Cove, CA

The Golden State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sidney, MT vs Orange Cove, CA

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
↑ 40.9%
Sidney, MT
$1,498
Orange Cove, CA
$2,111
Difference
$613
more
Transportation
↑ 43.6%
Sidney, MT
$1,234
Orange Cove, CA
$1,772
Difference
$538
more
Housing
↑ 15.0%
Sidney, MT
$2,468
Orange Cove, CA
$2,837
Difference
$369
more
Groceries
↑ 26.2%
Sidney, MT
$1,086
Orange Cove, CA
$1,371
Difference
$285
more
All Utilities
↑ 21.8%
Sidney, MT
$548
Orange Cove, CA
$667
Difference
$119
more
Healthcare
↓ 5.3%
Sidney, MT
$667
Orange Cove, CA
$632
Difference
$35.17
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,140
To$1,090
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,190
To$1,100
↓ $90.00
2 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,360
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,570
To$1,900
↑ $330
Sidney, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

Orange Cove, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,100/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 Sidney, MT
$9,390
Monthly in Orange Cove, CA
$1,890
Difference

Home Values

Sidney
Orange Cove
$257K
Median Value
$293K
↑ +1.4%
YoY Change
↑ +4.5%
↑ +2.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +48%

Homes in Orange Cove are 14% more expensive than Sidney

Calculate payment - SidneyCalculate payment - Orange Cove

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$88.34
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

Sidney, 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

Orange Cove, CA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
California State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,530/month
$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Sidney, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.8%

Orange Cove, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
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

Sidney
Orange Cove
55 Moderate
Air Quality
67 Moderate
35.2%
Good Air Days
19.4%
95 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌡
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
99 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
99 days

Before moving from Sidney, MT to Orange Cove, CA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Orange Cove, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sidney, 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 Sidney to Orange Cove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Orange Cove, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sidney, MT vs Orange Cove, CA

How do the cost estimates for Sidney, MT and Orange Cove, CA compare?

Orange Cove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 34.5% higher than Sidney, 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 Sidney, MT, the model estimates $172,678 in Orange Cove, CA. 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 Sidney, MT and Orange Cove, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,310/month in Sidney, MT and $1,360/month in Orange Cove, CA. 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 California on TaxTakeHome.com

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