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

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

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

Hamilton costs about 11% more than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.14 CA$24.85

$11.33 $11.33

60.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.8 CA$99.7

$37.17 $37.17

95.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.24 CA$15.40

$14.45 $14.45

-22.21%

Cappuccino

$4.02 CA$5.51

$4.10 $4.10

-1.95%

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

$2.17 CA$2.97

$2.16 $2.16

0.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.45

$1.97 $1.97

-9.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 CA$7.99

$6.83 $6.83

-14.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.66 CA$9.12

$3.84 $3.84

73.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.14

$1.10 $1.10

108.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 CA$2.99

$3.28 $3.28

-33.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 CA$3.91

$6.06 $6.06

-52.81%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.30

$3.12 $3.12

0.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 CA$10.19

$14.02 $14.02

-47.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.70 CA$16.03

$13.64 $13.64

-14.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.37

$12.81 $12.81

10.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.19

$4.43 $4.43

-14.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.81

$1.47 $1.47

-10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$4.95

$4.89 $4.89

-26.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.15

$3.22 $3.22

16.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.62

$1.77 $1.77

49.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 CA$2.98

$1.65 $1.65

32.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 CA$2.92

$2.20 $2.20

-3.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$2.89 $2.89

-31.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.51 CA$18.51

$8.16 $8.16

65.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.02 CA$17.84

$17.61 $17.61

-26.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CA$3.41

$1.78 $1.78

39.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.24

$4.15 $4.15

-25.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 CA$3.50

$2.03 $2.03

26.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.3 CA$120

$30.17 $30.17

189.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 CA$4.84

$2.46 $2.46

43.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 CA$1.74

$1.63 $1.63

-22.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.34 CA$33.34

$29.40 $29.40

-17.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.58

$0.86 $0.86

33.72%

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

$25.5K CA$35.0K

$30.1K $30.1K

-15.22%

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

$20.6K CA$28.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

-17.99%

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

$152 CA$208

$159 $159

-4.33%

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

$39.83 CA$54.6

$51.0 $51.0

-21.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.3 CA$71.6

$76.3 $76.3

-31.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.12 CA$49.49

$61.8 $61.8

-41.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.80 CA$29.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 CA$16.23

$12.03 $12.03

-1.50%

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

$627 CA$859

$800 $800

-21.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K CA$29.9K

$32.5K $32.5K

-32.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 CA$76.4

$65.4 $65.4

-14.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.82 CA$46.33

$32.55 $32.55

3.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 CA$135

$70.7 $70.7

39.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$166

$98.7 $98.7

22.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 CA$1,879

$1,457 $1,457

-5.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 CA$1,727

$1,059 $1,059

19.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,001 CA$2,741

$1,957 $1,957

2.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,036 CA$2,789

$1,821 $1,821

11.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,835 CA$3,884

$2,091 $2,091

35.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,865 CA$3,925

$2,094 $2,094

36.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,880 CA$3,946

$3,549 $3,549

-18.84%

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: April 22, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,371 in Hamilton versus $1,457 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 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 $73 in Hamilton versus $37 in Great Falls, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $341 in Hamilton vs $400 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 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 $3,714 per month in Hamilton and $3,340 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 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 $73.0 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.

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.