Thompson Falls, MT vs Big Timber, MT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Big Timber, MT has a modeled overall cost index 12.1% lower than Thompson Falls, MT.

Thompson Falls, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $980 / month
Big Timber, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,160 / 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 Thompson Falls, MT and Big Timber, 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 Thompson Falls, MT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,403/month in Big Timber, MT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $133,164 in Big Timber, MT

Regional cost estimates: Thompson Falls, MT uses Spokane, WA. Big Timber, MT uses Boise, ID. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,403

Savings

Annual Impact

$16.8K

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.

Thompson Falls, MT

Population:1K

Cost Index:

79.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$373K

Big Timber, MT

Population:2K

Cost Index:

70.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$429K

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Thompson Falls, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Big Timber, MT

The Treasure State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Thompson Falls, MT vs Big Timber, 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	Thompson Falls, MT	Big Timber, MT	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,753/mo	$963/mo	↓ $789less	45.0%
Healthcare	$831/mo	$577/mo	↓ $254less	30.6%
Groceries	$1,088/mo	$876/mo	↓ $212less	19.5%
Other	$1,422/mo	$1,290/mo	↓ $132less	9.3%
All Utilities	$485/mo	$435/mo	↓ $49.68less	10.2%
Housing	$1,922/mo	$1,956/mo	↑ $33.93more	1.8%

Transportation

↓ 45.0%

Thompson Falls, MT

$1,753

Big Timber, MT

$963

Difference

$789

less

Healthcare

↓ 30.6%

Thompson Falls, MT

$831

Big Timber, MT

$577

Difference

$254

less

Groceries

↓ 19.5%

Thompson Falls, MT

$1,088

Big Timber, MT

$876

Difference

$212

less

Other

↓ 9.3%

Thompson Falls, MT

$1,422

Big Timber, MT

$1,290

Difference

$132

less

All Utilities

↓ 10.2%

Thompson Falls, MT

$485

Big Timber, MT

$435

Difference

$49.68

less

Housing

↑ 1.8%

Thompson Falls, MT

$1,922

Big Timber, MT

$1,956

Difference

$33.93

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$740

To$870

↑ $130

1 Bed

From$800

To$910

↑ $110

2 Bed

From$980

To$1,160

↑ $180

3 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,540

↑ $290

Thompson Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Big Timber, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/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 Thompson Falls, MT

$6,097

Monthly in Big Timber, MT

$1,403

Difference

Home Values

Thompson Falls

Big Timber

$373K

Median Value

$429K

↑ +1.9%

YoY Change

↑ +6.5%

↑ +64.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +64.2%

Homes in Big Timber are 15% more expensive than Thompson Falls

Calculate payment - Thompson Falls Calculate payment - Big Timber

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Thompson 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

Big Timber, 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

Thompson Falls, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.8%

Big Timber, 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

Thompson Falls

Big Timber

38 Good

Air Quality

44 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

62.8%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

88 Moderate

💨

Top Hazards

🔥💨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

49 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

49 days

Before moving from Thompson Falls, MT to Big Timber, MT

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Big Timber, MT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Thompson Falls, MT. 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 Thompson Falls to Big Timber moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Thompson Falls, MT vs Big Timber, MT

How do the cost estimates for Thompson Falls, MT and Big Timber, MT compare?

Big Timber, MT has a modeled overall cost index 12.1% lower than Thompson Falls, 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 Thompson Falls, MT, the model estimates $133,164 in Big Timber, 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 Thompson Falls, MT and Big Timber, MT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Thompson Falls, MT and $1,160/month in Big Timber, 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.

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