Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Livingston, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.

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

Livingston median rent
$1,339/mo
Firefighter salary (Montana)
$55,273/yr
Rent as % of income
29.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,606, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,382/mo in rent. Livingston's median rent of $1,339 leaves roughly $43/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 50.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Billings, MT
$1,334/mo (29% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,333/mo (28.9% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,332/mo (28.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Livingston

View full rent data for Livingston, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Livingston, MT?

Median rent in Livingston is $1,339 a month. A typical firefighter in Montana earns about $55,273 a year, which makes that rent 29.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Livingston?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Montana (~$55,273/yr) supports up to $1,382 a month in rent. Livingston's current median rent is $1,339/mo, which leaves a $43/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Livingston?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Montana works roughly 50.4 hours a month to cover Livingston's median rent of $1,339.

Where is rent cheaper than Livingston for a firefighter?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Billings ($1,334/mo), Great Falls ($1,333/mo), Great Falls ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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