Susanville, CA vs Miles City, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Miles City, MT has a modeled overall cost index 28.9% lower than Susanville, CA.

Susanville, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,250 / month
Miles City, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,610 / 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 Susanville, CA and Miles City, 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 Susanville, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,885/month in Miles City, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $127,386 in Miles City, MT

Regional cost estimates: Susanville, CA uses Reno, NV. Miles City, MT uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 28.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,885

Savings

Annual Impact

$22.6K

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.

Susanville, CA

Population:13K

Cost Index:

101.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$227K

Miles City, MT

Population:8K

Cost Index:

72.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$229K

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Susanville, CA

The Golden State

13K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Miles City, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Susanville, CA vs Miles City, 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	Susanville, CA	Miles City, MT	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,443/mo	$1,854/mo	↓ $589less	24.1%
Other	$1,612/mo	$1,126/mo	↓ $486less	30.2%
Transportation	$1,402/mo	$927/mo	↓ $475less	33.9%
Groceries	$974/mo	$806/mo	↓ $168less	17.2%
Healthcare	$593/mo	$495/mo	↓ $97.35less	16.4%
All Utilities	$476/mo	$407/mo	↓ $69.72less	14.6%

Housing

↓ 24.1%

Susanville, CA

$2,443

Miles City, MT

$1,854

Difference

$589

less

Other

↓ 30.2%

Susanville, CA

$1,612

Miles City, MT

$1,126

Difference

$486

less

Transportation

↓ 33.9%

Susanville, CA

$1,402

Miles City, MT

$927

Difference

$475

less

Groceries

↓ 17.2%

Susanville, CA

$974

Miles City, MT

$806

Difference

$168

less

Healthcare

↓ 16.4%

Susanville, CA

$593

Miles City, MT

$495

Difference

$97.35

less

All Utilities

↓ 14.6%

Susanville, CA

$476

Miles City, MT

$407

Difference

$69.72

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$860

To$1,110

↑ $250

1 Bed

From$990

To$1,230

↑ $240

2 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,610

↑ $360

3 Bed

From$1,740

To$2,160

↑ $420

Susanville, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $990–$990/mo

Miles City, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,230/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 Susanville, CA

$5,615

Monthly in Miles City, MT

$1,885

Difference

Home Values

Susanville

Miles City

$227K

Median Value

$229K

↑ +0.3%

YoY Change

↑ +0.5%

↑ +12.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +38.9%

Homes in Miles City are 1% more expensive than Susanville

Calculate payment - Susanville Calculate payment - Miles City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.1K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$88.34

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.7%

Rate difference

Susanville, 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

Miles City, 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

Susanville, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Miles City, 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

Susanville

Miles City

50 Good

Air Quality

55 Moderate

51.4%

Good Air Days

35.2%

97 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🔥🌊🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

Before moving from Susanville, CA to Miles City, MT

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Miles City, MT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Susanville, CA. 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 Susanville to Miles City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Susanville, CA vs Miles City, MT

How do the cost estimates for Susanville, CA and Miles City, MT compare?

Miles City, MT has a modeled overall cost index 28.9% lower than Susanville, CA. 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 Susanville, CA, the model estimates $127,386 in Miles City, 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 Susanville, CA and Miles City, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,250/month in Susanville, CA and $1,610/month in Miles City, 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 California and Montana on TaxTakeHome.com