Cost of Living Comparison Between Fremont, CA and Helena, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Fremont, CA and Helena, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,102 per month in Fremont, CA vs $3,138 in Helena, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,362 per month in Fremont, CA vs $4,528 in Helena, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,622 per month in Fremont, CA vs $5,917 in Helena, MT, rent included.

Fremont, CA costs about 31% more than Helena, MT, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Fremont, CA and Helena, MT sit above the global median – Fremont, CA by 199%, Helena, MT by 129%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$21.33 $21.33

-6.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$99.3 $99.3

-23.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.01 $12.01

$18.21 $18.21

-34.05%

Cappuccino

$5.38 $5.38

$5.08 $5.08

5.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.16 $2.16

21.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.80 $1.80

31.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.85 $8.85

$4.99 $4.99

77.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.12 $11.12

$6.93 $6.93

60.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.04 $1.04

50.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.81 $3.81

14.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.44 $4.44

-25.68%

Eggs

$5.98 $5.98

$3.64 $3.64

64.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 $9.46

$18.32 $18.32

-48.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$9.05 $9.05

59.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.26 $14.26

$19.81 $19.81

-28.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.83 $4.83

-8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.84 $1.84

5.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.54 $4.54

-4.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.16 $4.16

14.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.22 $2.22

22.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.47 $1.47

63.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.68 $1.68

10.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.63 $1.63

17.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.87 $11.87

$10.55 $10.55

12.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$12.85 $12.85

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.78 $1.78

-5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.61 $2.61

5.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.58 $3.58

-25.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.7 $82.7

$59.7 $59.7

38.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$10.19 $10.19

-84.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 $0.87

$3.49 $3.49

-75.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.97 $29.97

$45.52 $45.52

-34.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.98 $0.98

50.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.9K $36.9K

$35.4K $35.4K

4.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$30.5K $30.5K

-13.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$275 $275

$376 $376

-26.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.92 $40.92

$66.1 $66.1

-38.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$90.0 $90.0

-21.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.75 $36.75

$52.2 $52.2

-29.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 $8.46

$14.72 $14.72

-42.53%

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 $15.09

$11.92 $11.92

26.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,803 $1,803

$1,973 $1,973

-8.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$27.2K $27.2K

44.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 $59.2

$64.0 $64.0

-7.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 $51.5

$119 $119

-56.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 $99.8

$81.7 $81.7

22.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$125 $125

-3.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,859 $2,859

$1,766 $1,766

61.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,607 $2,607

$1,530 $1,530

70.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,972 $3,972

$2,975 $2,975

33.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,688 $3,688

$2,469 $2,469

49.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,245 $6,245

$3,584 $3,584

74.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,929 $4,929

$2,948 $2,948

67.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,511 $7,511

$6,799 $6,799

10.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.15

-1.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fremont, CA: August 17, 2026

Last update for Helena, MT: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,859 in Fremont, CA versus $1,766 in Helena, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Fremont, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Fremont, CA versus $99.0 in Helena, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $402 in Fremont, CA vs $390 in Helena, MT – so Helena, MT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fremont, CA vs Helena, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Fremont, CA is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,153 per month in Fremont, CA and $4,707 in Helena, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Helena, MT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 38% less in Helena, MT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,803 per month in Fremont, CA and $1,973 in Helena, MT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,102 in Fremont, CA and $3,138 in Helena, MT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Helena, MT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Helena, MT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fremont, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.