Senior living in Montana
Montana, or the Treasure State, can be a hidden treasure if you're looking to retire. If you're more of a winter person, you're lucky, as the summers here are short and the winters are cold. Besides that, Montana is an excellent place if you love living in the mountains or enjoying a good bison burger. Not only that, there is a good amount of urban life too. There's a lot to do in this state, which is why many people are looking to retire here. But, what about the cost of living? Let's break down the prices in the next section.
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Cost of living in Montana
Surprisingly, the cost of living in Montana is almost 7 points more than the national average, but there is a catch. The cost of living comes from its groceries and housing are much more, but the median home cost and rent are less. Also, the utilities are nearly 12 points below the national average. So, it is possible to find an affordable home to retire to with low utility costs with a bit of luck. If you can find that, you're in for a state that can be breathtaking for you to be in, and we believe that you will love what you see.
Cost-of-living indices
100 = US average. Higher means more expensive.
- Overall
- 106.9
- Grocery
- 103.1
- Housing
- 105.9
- Utilities
- 88.1
- Transportation
- 95.3
- Misc.
- 98.6
Housing & rent
Statewide medians and averages.
- Median home
- $230,600
- Average rent
- $810
- Studio
- $685
- 1 bedroom
- $711
- 2 bedroom
- $938
- 3 bedroom
- $1,137
Care levels in Montana
Whether you're comparing options for a parent or planning ahead for yourself, here's where to start by care level.
- AL
Assisted Living
Assisted living provides personal care, meals, and daily support for seniors who need help with everyday tasks but not full medical supervision.
- MC
Memory Care
Memory care is a specialized type of senior living for people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive decline.
- IL
Independent Living
Independent living is community housing for active seniors who want amenities, social life, and freedom from home upkeep without daily personal-care services.
- HC
Home Care
Home care brings personal-care services and companionship into the senior's own home rather than moving them into a community.
- SNF
Nursing Homes
A skilled nursing facility (SNF, often called a nursing home) provides 24-hour licensed medical care and rehabilitation for seniors with serious health conditions.
- SA
Senior Apartments
Senior apartments are age-restricted rental homes - typically for residents 55+ or 62+ - designed for older adults who live independently.
Browse by city
Popular cities in Montana
- Billings, MT15 communities
- Great Falls, MT13 communities
- Helena, MT10 communities
- Missoula, MT10 communities
- Bozeman, MT9 communities
- Kalispell, MT4 communities
- Columbia Falls, MT3 communities
- Butte, MT2 communities
- Hamilton, MT2 communities
- Ronan, MT2 communities
- Saint Ignatius, MT2 communities
- Absarokee, MT1 community
Hand-picked from our directory
Top assisted living in Montana
Highgate At Billings
Billings, MT
4.6 · 26 reviews
Highgate At Bozeman
Bozeman, MT
4.5 · 19 reviews
Highgate At Great Falls
Great Falls, MT
4.7 · 15 reviews
Auberge At Missoula Valley
Missoula, MT
4.4 · 12 reviews
Prestige Assisted Living At Kalispell
Kalispell, MT
4.3 · 12 reviews
Morningstar Senior Living Of Billings
Billings, MT
4.3 · 9 reviews
Caregivers who come to you
Top home care in Montana
Home Instead Senior Care - Bozeman/helena, Mt
Bozeman, MT
5.0 · 32 reviews
Heart To Heart Home Care Llc
Bozeman, MT
4.8 · 26 reviews
Home Instead Senior Care - Missoula, Mt
Missoula, MT
5.0 · 13 reviews
A Plus Health Care Inc Helena, Mt
Helena, MT
2.3 · 3 reviews
Qualicare Big Sky
Bozeman, MT
5.0 · 2 reviews
Addus Homecare Kalispell, Mt
Kalispell, MT
55+ housing without daily care
Best senior apartments in Montana
Local pricing
Assisted living monthly cost by city in Montana
Median monthly cost of assisted living, sourced from public data. Actual community pricing varies by apartment size, level of care, and amenities.
Common questions about senior living in Montana
- What types of senior care are available in Montana?
- Montana has communities offering assisted living, memory care, independent living, home care, and skilled nursing. Larger metros have more depth of options across all care levels; smaller markets may have fewer choices in any single category.
- How much does assisted living cost in Montana?
- Assisted living costs in Montana vary widely by metro, apartment size, and the resident's level of care. The national median is roughly $5,000 per month; major metros tend to run higher and rural areas lower. Each community sets its own pricing - request a written cost breakdown when you tour.
- Does Montana Medicaid pay for assisted living?
- Medicaid does not pay for room-and-board in assisted living, but Montana's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver may cover some assisted-living services for eligible residents. Coverage and eligibility vary - check directly with your state's Medicaid agency or an elder-law attorney.
- How do I evaluate a nursing home in Montana?
- Start with the CMS 5-star rating on Medicare.gov for any Medicare-certified facility, then look at the underlying staffing data and the most recent state inspection report. Tour the facility, watch staff interact with residents, and ask about staffing levels during evenings and overnight.
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