Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Kalispell, MT?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.
Kalispell rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Montana cities have lower median rent than Kalispell, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kalispell
View full rent data for Kalispell, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Kalispell, MT?
Median rent in Kalispell is $1,888 a month. A typical police officer in Montana earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Kalispell?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Montana (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. Kalispell's current median rent is $1,888/mo, which is $188/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Kalispell?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in Montana works roughly 57.8 hours a month to cover Kalispell's median rent of $1,888.
Where is rent cheaper than Kalispell for a police officer?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Bozeman ($1,731/mo), Helena ($1,630/mo), Helena ($1,622/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.