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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,474 per month in Hamilton vs $2,212 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,600 per month in Hamilton vs $3,239 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,726 per month in Hamilton vs $4,266 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 12% more than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.60 CA$26.20

$11.70 $11.70

58.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.4 CA$102

$36.92 $36.92

96.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 CA$15.62

$14.46 $14.46

-23.31%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.83

$4.08 $4.08

1.47%

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

$2.10 CA$2.96

$2.14 $2.14

-1.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.45

$1.96 $1.96

-11.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 CA$8.48

$6.96 $6.96

-13.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.48

$3.72 $3.72

80.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CA$3.19

$1.10 $1.10

105.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 CA$3.10

$3.41 $3.41

-35.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.17

$6.09 $6.09

-51.40%

Eggs

$3.27 CA$4.61

$3.17 $3.17

3.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 CA$10.53

$14.21 $14.21

-47.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 CA$16.51

$14.11 $14.11

-16.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 CA$19.69

$12.70 $12.70

10.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.43

$4.34 $4.34

-11.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 CA$1.85

$1.46 $1.46

-10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.19

$4.90 $4.90

-24.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.43

$3.27 $3.27

17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$1.87 $1.87

44.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 CA$3.03

$1.58 $1.58

36.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CA$3.13

$2.30 $2.30

-3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 CA$2.92

$2.83 $2.83

-26.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 CA$19.14

$7.79 $7.79

74.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 CA$17.65

$14.92 $14.92

-16.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 CA$3.35

$1.74 $1.74

36.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 CA$4.26

$4.31 $4.31

-29.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 CA$3.60

$1.94 $1.94

31.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$123

$30.13 $30.13

190.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 CA$5.17

$2.52 $2.52

45.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 CA$1.80

$1.59 $1.59

-19.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.87 CA$33.62

$29.71 $29.71

-19.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.62

$0.81 $0.81

41.98%

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

$25.3K CA$35.6K

$30.1K $30.1K

-16.15%

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

$21.0K CA$29.6K

$25.1K $25.1K

-16.20%

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

$150 CA$211

$158 $158

-4.91%

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

$39.82 CA$56.1

$51.7 $51.7

-22.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 CA$74.3

$76.0 $76.0

-30.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.04 CA$50.8

$63.2 $63.2

-43.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.46 CA$31.64

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 CA$16.37

$11.94 $11.94

-2.68%

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

$646 CA$909

$796 $796

-18.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K CA$31.6K

$32.0K $32.0K

-29.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 CA$79.4

$65.4 $65.4

-13.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.02 CA$47.92

$33.09 $33.09

2.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 CA$137

$69.7 $69.7

39.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$167

$101 $101

17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 CA$1,911

$1,450 $1,450

-6.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 CA$1,807

$1,063 $1,063

20.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 CA$2,802

$1,986 $1,986

0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 CA$2,848

$1,822 $1,822

10.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 CA$3,847

$2,108 $2,108

29.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,714 CA$3,823

$2,065 $2,065

31.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,832 CA$3,989

$3,570 $3,570

-20.68%

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 Hamilton: July 19, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,357 in Hamilton versus $1,450 in Great Falls, 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 26% 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 $72.0 in Hamilton versus $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $343 in Hamilton vs $399 in Great Falls, MT – 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

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

Hamilton costs about 12% more than Great Falls, MT, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,711 per month in Hamilton and $3,318 in Great Falls, MT. 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 16% 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 $72.0 in Hamilton and $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,474 in Hamilton and $2,212 in Great Falls, MT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Great Falls, MT costs $2,212 versus $2,474 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.