Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Butte, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22% of gross income.

Butte rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Butte median rent
$1,410/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Montana)
$77,009/yr
Rent as % of income
22%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,417, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,925/mo in rent. Butte's median rent of $1,410 leaves roughly $515/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 38.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Butte, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Livingston, MT
$1,406/mo (21.9% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,404/mo (21.9% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,396/mo (21.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Butte

View full rent data for Butte, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Butte, MT?

Median rent in Butte is $1,410 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Montana earns about $77,009 a year, which makes that rent 22% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Butte?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Montana (~$77,009/yr) supports up to $1,925 a month in rent. Butte's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which leaves a $515/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Butte?

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a dental hygienist in Montana works roughly 38.1 hours a month to cover Butte's median rent of $1,410.

Where is rent cheaper than Butte for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Livingston ($1,406/mo), Billings ($1,404/mo), Great Falls ($1,396/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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