How much does it cost to rent in Butte, MT?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Butte, MT is $1,314. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Butte cheaper than other Montana cities?

Butte is among the more affordable cities in Montana, ranking #10 out of 11 cities at $1,314/mo.

When was Butte rent data last updated?

Butte rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MT

Butte

Name: Average Rent Prices in Butte, MT
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 35,052·10th most expensive in Montana·Butte rents are up 8.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,314/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$651

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Butte · $1,314

More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

45/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% above what Butte's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,314/mo

Expected by trend

$1,281/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Butte's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$940

1 BR

$1,080

2 BR

$1,370

3 BR

$1,920

4 BR+

$2,190

Research median

$1,370/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$15,768/yr

At $1,314/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.7% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Butte, MT is majority owner-occupied, 28.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

35,052

Median age

40.6

Renters

29.3%

Age distribution

20.2%

23.4%

13.6%

19.5%

Under 1820.2%

18–3423.4%

35–5423.4%

55–6413.6%

65+19.5%

Gender

51.7%

48.3%

Male51.7%

Female48.3%

Race & ethnicity

90.9%

White90.9%

Hispanic4.7%

Other4%

Education (25+)

32.2%

33.7%

28.1%

No HS diploma6%

HS diploma32.2%

Some college33.7%

Bachelor's+28.1%

Housing tenure

70.7%

29.3%

Owner70.7%

Renter29.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Butte, MT has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,119 → $1,314

up 17.4%

Population

34,368 → 35,052

up 2.0%

Renter share

30.2% → 29.3%

-0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

28.1% → 28.1%

+0.0 pts

Rent in Butte, MT has increased 17.4% since 2023, going from about $1,119 per month to roughly $1,314 today. Headcount in the area went from 34,368 to 35,052 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.0% change. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Butte, MT reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Butte

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View Butte rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Butte on your salary?

At $1,314/mo, how Butte rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $83,142/yr · Rent = 19% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $59,030/yr · Rent = 26.7% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $67,998/yr · Rent = 23.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $121,537/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $155,294/yr · Rent = 10.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $55,273/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $49,905/yr · Rent = 31.6% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $61,512/yr · Rent = 25.6% income

affordable

By apartment size

Butte rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Butte. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Butte

About renting in Butte, MT

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Butte is $1,314/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,370/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,080/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,920/mo.

At 22% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Butte ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Butte an affordable city for renters?

Butte is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,314/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Butte falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Butte?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $53,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,314/mo in Butte.

Is rent going up or down in Butte?

Rent in Butte has increased 8.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Butte rent compare to other cities in Montana?

Butte is one of the more affordable cities in Montana for rent, ranking #10 out of 11 tracked cities at $1,314/mo.

What percentage of Butte residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 29.3% of Butte households are renters, while 70.7% are owner-occupied. Butte leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.