Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Kalispell, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.4% of gross income.

Kalispell rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Kalispell median rent
$1,852/mo
Carpenter salary (Montana)
$53,627/yr
Rent as % of income
41.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,469, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,341/mo in rent. Kalispell's median rent of $1,852 exceeds that threshold by $511/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 71.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Kalispell, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Livingston, MT
$1,839/mo (41.2% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,783/mo (39.9% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,738/mo (38.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kalispell

View full rent data for Kalispell, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Kalispell, MT?

Median rent in Kalispell is $1,852 a month. A typical carpenter in Montana earns about $53,627 a year, which makes that rent 41.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Kalispell?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Montana (~$53,627/yr) supports up to $1,341 a month in rent. Kalispell's current median rent is $1,852/mo, which is $511/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Kalispell?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Montana works roughly 71.8 hours a month to cover Kalispell's median rent of $1,852.

Where is rent cheaper than Kalispell for a carpenter?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Livingston ($1,839/mo), Livingston ($1,783/mo), Livingston ($1,738/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Montana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kalispell, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.