Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in Great Falls, MT?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.
Great Falls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).
About rent and an elementary school teacher salary
Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Montana cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:
Compare with full rent data for Great Falls
View full rent data for Great Falls, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in Great Falls, MT?
Median rent in Great Falls is $1,367 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Montana earns about $59,030 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in Great Falls?
Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Montana (~$59,030/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $1,367/mo, which leaves a $109/mo buffer.
How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in Great Falls?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Montana works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $1,367.
Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for an elementary school teacher?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Billings ($1,363/mo), Billings ($1,363/mo), Billings ($1,357/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.