Cost of Living: Montana vs Tennessee
Montana is cheaper for a single adult by about $21/month, mainly driven by rent.
Comparison at a glance
- Monthly difference$21/moMontana saves vs Tennessee
- Housing difference$250/moMontana cheaper on 1BR rent
- Grocery difference$50/moTennessee has a lighter basket
- Equivalent salary≈ $75,500$75,000 in Montana → Tennessee
- Cheaper overallMontana~1% lower single-adult budget
- Affordability winnerMontanaLower combined rent + essentials
Side-by-side single-adult budget
The big differences between Montana and Tennessee come down to rent and tax. Groceries, transport, and utilities are usually within 10–15%; housing can swing the total by hundreds of dollars per month.
Cost of Living Verdict
Six quick takes on where Montana and Tennessee actually pull ahead.
- Cheaper overallTie
Montana and Tennessee have similar single-adult monthly totals.
- Better housing affordabilityMontana
Average 1BR rent is $1,100 vs $1,350.
- Better for familiesTennessee
Tennessee keeps the family-of-four monthly total lower thanks to cheaper 2BR rent and groceries.
- Better for retireesTie
Healthcare, rent, and tax pressure are comparable for fixed-income retirees.
- Better for remote workersTennessee
Tennessee has a lower cost index (90 vs 102), so an out-of-state salary stretches further.
- Better purchasing powerTennessee
Tennessee has a stronger median-income-to-cost ratio — local wages cover more of the typical basket.
What this difference means in practice
The headline gap broken into the four buckets that actually move household budgets.
- Housing impact
Montana is roughly 23% cheaper on housing (~$250/mo less than Tennessee) — compounds quickly across a year.
- Daily spending
Tennessee is roughly 13% cheaper on groceries (~$50/mo less than Montana) — compounds quickly across a year.
- Transport & utilities
Tennessee is roughly 13% cheaper on transport + utilities (~$81/mo less than Montana) — compounds quickly across a year.
- Lifestyle
Tennessee is roughly 13% cheaper on lifestyle (dining + extras) (~$60/mo less than Montana) — compounds quickly across a year.
Purchasing power snapshot
Which region stretches a dollar further, category by category.
- Housingmoderate advantageMontana
Montana is the cheaper place to rent or own.
- Groceriesmoderate advantageTennessee
Weekly grocery basket is lighter in Tennessee.
- Utilitiesmoderate advantageTennessee
Lower monthly utility load in Tennessee.
- Transportmoderate advantageTennessee
Cheaper commuting overall in Tennessee.
- Healthcaremoderate advantageTennessee
Lower out-of-pocket healthcare in Tennessee.
- Lifestylemoderate advantageTennessee
Dining, entertainment, and extras are cheaper in Tennessee.
Who benefits more?
The same comparison reads very differently depending on the household.
- FamiliesTennessee
Lower 2BR rent and grocery load make Tennessee the easier family budget.
- SinglesTie
Single-adult monthly totals are close.
- RetireesTie
Housing, healthcare, and tax pressure look similar.
- Remote workersTennessee
An out-of-state salary stretches further in Tennessee thanks to a lower cost index.
- StudentsMontana
Lower rent and commuting costs make Montana easier on a tight student budget.
- High earnersTennessee
Tennessee blends a more efficient tax load with stronger local incomes.
Equivalent lifestyle salary
How much you'd need in Tennessee to match the lifestyle a given salary buys in Montana.
needed in Tennessee for the same lifestyle.
needed in Tennessee for the same lifestyle.
needed in Tennessee for the same lifestyle.
Housing affordability
Housing is the dominant gap: Montana runs roughly 23% cheaper on 1BR rent and 23% cheaper on 2BR — enough to reshape household budgets.
Ownership affordability follows the same shape: lower rents typically signal more attainable mortgage payments at similar incomes.
Category-by-category
| Category | Montana | Tennessee | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR rent) | $1,100 | $1,350 | Montana |
| Groceries | $428 | $378 | Tennessee |
| Utilities | $199 | $176 | Tennessee |
| Transportation | $490 | $432 | Tennessee |
| Healthcare | $326 | $288 | Tennessee |
| Top income tax | 0.1% | 0.0% | Tied |
| Lifestyle (dining + extras) | $510 | $450 | Tennessee |
Comparison FAQ
- Is Montana more expensive than Tennessee?
- Montana and Tennessee cost about the same per month for a single adult.
- How much salary do I need to move from Montana to Tennessee?
- If $100,000 supports your lifestyle in Montana, you'd need roughly $100,500 in Tennessee to maintain the same purchasing power.
- Which region offers better affordability?
- Montana comes out lower on the combined single-adult budget — about $21/mo cheaper than Tennessee.
- Is housing significantly cheaper in one of them?
- Housing is the dominant gap: Montana runs roughly 23% cheaper on 1BR rent and 23% cheaper on 2BR — enough to reshape household budgets.
- Can a remote worker benefit from moving?
- Both regions land close on cost index and tax — relocation arbitrage is modest for remote workers.
- What income is considered comfortable in Tennessee?
- Roughly $59,000/yr gross typically supports a comfortable single-adult lifestyle in Tennessee, leaving room for savings on top of monthly costs.
Related cost-of-living comparisons
- Montana vs North Dakota cost of living
- Montana vs South Dakota cost of living
- Montana vs Wyoming cost of living
- Montana vs Idaho cost of living
- Tennessee vs Kentucky cost of living
- Tennessee vs Virginia cost of living
- Tennessee vs North Carolina cost of living
- Tennessee vs Georgia cost of living
- Tennessee vs Alabama cost of living
- Tennessee vs Mississippi cost of living
Deep-dive each region
People also compare
These estimates are approximate and may vary by city, taxes, rent, family size, and personal spending. Use them as a starting point, not a substitute for personalised financial or tax advice.