Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,226 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $2,476 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,276 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $3,572 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,326 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $4,668 in Hamilton, rent included.

Great Falls, MT is about 10% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Great Falls, MT and Hamilton sit above the global median – Great Falls, MT by 66%, Hamilton by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 $11.33

$18.14 CA$24.85

-37.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.17 $37.17

$72.8 CA$99.7

-48.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.45 $14.45

$11.24 CA$15.40

28.56%

Cappuccino

$4.10 $4.10

$4.02 CA$5.51

1.99%

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

$2.16 $2.16

$2.17 CA$2.97

-0.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.78 CA$2.45

10.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.83 $6.83

$5.83 CA$7.99

17.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$6.66 CA$9.12

-42.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$2.29 CA$3.14

-51.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.18 CA$2.99

50.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$2.86 CA$3.91

111.89%

Eggs

$3.12 $3.12

$3.14 CA$4.30

-0.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 $14.02

$7.43 CA$10.19

88.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.64 $13.64

$11.70 CA$16.03

16.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 $12.81

$14.14 CA$19.37

-9.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.79 CA$5.19

16.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.32 CA$1.81

11.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.61 CA$4.95

35.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.76 CA$5.15

-14.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.64 CA$3.62

-32.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.18 CA$2.98

-24.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.13 CA$2.92

3.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.98 CA$2.71

45.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.16 $8.16

$13.51 CA$18.51

-39.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.61 $17.61

$13.02 CA$17.84

35.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.49 CA$3.41

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.10 CA$4.24

33.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.56 CA$3.50

-20.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.17 $30.17

$87.3 CA$120

-65.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.53 CA$4.84

-30.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.27 CA$1.74

28.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.40 $29.40

$24.34 CA$33.34

20.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.15 CA$1.58

-25.22%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$25.5K CA$35.0K

17.96%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$20.6K CA$28.2K

21.93%

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

$159 $159

$152 CA$208

4.53%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$39.83 CA$54.6

27.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.3 $76.3

$52.3 CA$71.6

45.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$36.12 CA$49.49

70.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.80 CA$29.86

Cinema Ticket

$12.03 $12.03

$11.85 CA$16.23

1.52%

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

$800 $800

$627 CA$859

27.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.5K $32.5K

$21.8K CA$29.9K

48.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 $65.4

$55.8 CA$76.4

17.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.55 $32.55

$33.82 CA$46.33

-3.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 $70.7

$98.6 CA$135

-28.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.7 $98.7

$121 CA$166

-18.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 $1,457

$1,371 CA$1,879

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 $1,059

$1,260 CA$1,727

-16.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,957 $1,957

$2,001 CA$2,741

-2.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,821 $1,821

$2,036 CA$2,789

-10.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,091 $2,091

$2,835 CA$3,884

-26.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,094 $2,094

$2,865 CA$3,925

-26.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,549 $3,549

$2,880 CA$3,946

23.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

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

Last update for Great Falls, MT: April 21, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,457 in Great Falls, MT versus $1,371 in Hamilton. 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 23% higher in Great Falls, MT, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Great Falls, MT versus $73 in Hamilton. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Great Falls, MT vs $341 in Hamilton – so Hamilton 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

Great Falls, MT vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hamilton costs about 11% more than Great Falls, MT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,340 per month in Great Falls, MT and $3,714 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Hamilton – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Great Falls, MT and $73.0 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Great Falls, MT, where all-in costs run around $2,226, than in Hamilton at $2,476. In Great Falls, MT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Great Falls, MT costs $2,226 versus $2,476 in Hamilton. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Great Falls, MT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.