Rent Affordability for An Elementary School Teacher in Montana
A typical elementary school teacher in Montana earns about $59,030 a year, which supports approximately $1,476 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Montana city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 6 of 12 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 6 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles City, MT | $850/mo | 17.3% | very comfortable |
| Laurel, MT | $1,240/mo | 25.2% | affordable |
| Great Falls, MT | $1,388/mo | 28.2% | affordable |
| Livingston, MT | $1,406/mo | 28.6% | affordable |
| Butte, MT | $1,410/mo | 28.7% | affordable |
| Billings, MT | $1,437/mo | 29.2% | affordable |
| Missoula, MT | $1,550/mo | 31.5% | stretched |
| Helena, MT | $1,617/mo | 32.9% | stretched |
| Kalispell, MT | $1,952/mo | 39.7% | stretched |
| Bozeman, MT | $2,164/mo | 44% | rent-burdened |
| Belgrade, MT | $2,344/mo | 47.7% | rent-burdened |
| Whitefish, MT | $2,841/mo | 57.8% | severely rent-burdened |