RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · MT

Livingston

Pop. 8,780·9th most expensive in Montana·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,406/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+5.0%
vs US Median
-$556
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Livingston rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Livingston · $1,406
More affordable than 81% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,406/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$56,000/yr
Local median income
$65,861/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Livingston's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,090
1 BR
$1,340
2 BR
$1,590
3 BR
$2,210
4 BR+
$2,670
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,590/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,406 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$16,872/yr
At $1,406/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +5.0% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Livingston, MT is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 38.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
8,780
Median income
$65,861
Median age
43.8
Renters
40.1%
Age distribution
17.4%
20.6%
26.3%
14.3%
21.4%
Under 1817.4%
18–3420.6%
35–5426.3%
55–6414.3%
65+21.4%
Gender
48.6%
51.4%
Male48.6%
Female51.4%
Race & ethnicity
92.9%
White92.9%
Hispanic1.8%
Other4.9%
Education (25+)
27.1%
31.9%
38.6%
No HS diploma2.4%
HS diploma27.1%
Some college31.9%
Bachelor's+38.6%
Housing tenure
59.9%
40.1%
Owner59.9%
Renter40.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Livingston, MT has changed in 5 years

Income
$51,599 → $65,861
up 27.6%
Population
8,110 → 8,780
up 8.3%
Renter share
34.6% → 40.1%
+5.5 pts
Bachelor's+
29.3% → 38.6%
+9.3 pts
Median age
41.6 → 43.8
+2.2 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $65,861 today, compared with $51,599 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 8,110 to 8,780 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.3% change. About 40.1% of households rent today, against 34.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.3% to 38.6%.

Community

Discussions about Livingston

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Livingston rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Livingston on your salary?

At $1,406/mo, how Livingston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Livingston rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Livingston

About renting in Livingston, MT

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Livingston is $1,406/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,090/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,590/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,340/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,210/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($65,861/yr), Livingston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Livingston an affordable city for renters?

Livingston is considered affordable for renters. At $1,406/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($65,861/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Livingston falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Livingston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $56,000/year (~$27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,406/mo in Livingston. The local median household income is $65,861/yr, meaning the typical Livingston household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Livingston?

Rent in Livingston has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Livingston rent compare to other cities in Montana?

Livingston is one of the more affordable cities in Montana for rent, ranking #9 out of 12 tracked cities at $1,406/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Livingston?

Cody is nearby and more affordable at $1,389/mo, which is $17 less than Livingston.

What percentage of Livingston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 40.1% of Livingston households are renters, while 59.9% are owner-occupied. Livingston leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Livingston rent compare to the national average?

Livingston's median rent of $1,406/mo is $556 (28%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Montana, it ranks #9 out of 12 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,406/mo, rent takes ~26% of Livingston's median household income ($65,861/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Livingston 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.7%
Run the Livingston affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Livingston
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Livingston, MT

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Livingston.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google