Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Great Falls, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.

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

Great Falls median rent
$1,433/mo
Paramedic salary (Montana)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
36.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $1,433 exceeds that threshold by $263/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 63.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Butte, MT
$1,432/mo (36.7% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,432/mo (36.7% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,426/mo (36.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, MT →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Great Falls, MT?

Median rent in Great Falls is $1,433 a month. A typical paramedic in Montana earns about $46,798 a year, which makes that rent 36.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Montana (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $1,433/mo, which is $263/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Montana works roughly 63.7 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $1,433.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a paramedic?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Butte ($1,432/mo), Butte ($1,432/mo), Livingston ($1,426/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic 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.