Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Great Falls, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 10.6% of gross income.

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

Great Falls median rent
$1,367/mo
Lawyer salary (Montana)
$155,294/yr
Rent as % of income
10.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,882/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $1,367 leaves roughly $2,515/mo of headroom under that threshold. A lawyer works roughly 18.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a lawyer salary

Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:

Billings, MT
$1,363/mo (10.5% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,363/mo (10.5% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,357/mo (10.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a lawyer afford rent in Great Falls, MT?

Median rent in Great Falls is $1,367 a month. A typical lawyer in Montana earns about $155,294 a year, which makes that rent 10.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a lawyer afford in Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Montana (~$155,294/yr) supports up to $3,882 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $1,367/mo, which leaves a $2,515/mo buffer.

How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Great Falls?

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a lawyer in Montana works roughly 18.3 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $1,367.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a lawyer?

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 a lawyer salary.

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