Helena cost of living
Prices in the Helena, MT metro area run at 95.7 against a national average of 100, ranking it #151 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 90.1.
What drives the number
Prices in Helena run at 95.7 where the national average is 100, so about 4.3 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #151 of 387 metro areas. Against Montana as a whole it is 1.1 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 96.0, rents at 90.1, other services at 72.6. Goods are close to national almost everywhere, because most are shipped and priced nationally, so it is worth noticing when rents behave the same way. Goods at 96.0 are themselves 4 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 95.7 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Helena is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 1,380 | $65,960 | $68,924 | $81,270 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,150 | $29,050 | $30,355 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,110 | $34,550 | $36,102 | $34,580 |
| Office Clerks, General | 980 | $43,760 | $45,726 | $43,630 |
| General and Operations Managers | 930 | $94,520 | $98,767 | $102,950 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 930 | $37,110 | $38,777 | $35,930 |
| Registered Nurses | 870 | $87,630 | $91,567 | $93,600 |
| Cashiers | 870 | $30,040 | $31,390 | $31,190 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 95.7.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | 102.5 | 139.2 | #51 |
| Great Falls | 96.8 | 97.1 | #133 |
| Missoula | 96.4 | 94.9 | #141 |
| Billings | 93.5 | 77.4 | #194 |
Helena: common questions
Is Helena expensive?
Prices are 4.3% below the national average, a parity of 95.7 where the country is 100. It ranks #151 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Montana as a whole it is 1.1 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Helena?
The median worker there earns $49,300, which buys what $51,515 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 90.1 against goods at 96.0. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.