Montana

Snapshot

Retire by stateFigures verified May 31, 2026

Montana retirement guide

Retiring in Montana

Big mountains, wide-open land, and Glacier National Park. Just know that property taxes are climbing and the state taxes your Social Security.

See the state numbers Build a map around Montana

Could fit

You want mountains, open space, and the outdoors at your door. You will take quiet over convenient.

Look closely at

Winters are hard. Wildfire smoke comes in some summers. Property taxes keep climbing, and the state taxes your Social Security.

Planning watch

A property tax rebate may apply

From Montana Department of Revenue

Cost rank

#22

Cost of living by state

Recreation rank

Hobby-cost comparison

State guide

Montana

The whole move picture

Event feed

168 tracked

Open live events by state

Cost of living

$4,725/mo

Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Montana comes out near $4,725 a month.

#22 of 50 for lowest everyday cost, using the same BEA index shown here.

U.S. avg 100

More affordablePricier

Montana runs about 5% below the national average on everyday prices.

Find Montana in the ranking BEA Regional Price Parities

Cost of recreation

Our index of how Montana's estimated annual hobby costs compare with the rest of the country.

#9 of 50 for lower estimated recreation cost, using the same hobby-cost model shown here.

U.S. avg 100

More affordablePricier

Montana's modeled hobby costs run about 11% below the national average. The modeled average is about $983 a year across the activity basket.

Est. Our own measure from 8 modeled hobbies. It uses published state fees where we have them, then adds recurring hobby assumptions like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep. 100 = national average.

Find Montana in the ranking

How the plan models Montana

The state lines the calculator actually changes.

Start here for the whole state picture. The quick math sits beside the things that change daily life: taxes, home costs, care costs, towns, weather, and what Montana actually feels like.

Tax and Medicare

Check the Montana income picture.

Estimate how Montana treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.

Social Security

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Pension

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IRA / 401(k)

Generally taxed

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Cost of living

$4,725/mo

Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Montana prices translate to about $4,725 a month.

BEA Regional Price Parities

State income tax

~5.0%

Montana can tax some Social Security income and uses a 5% blended planning rate for taxable retirement-income context. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in Montana, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance.

Tax Foundation

Social Security

Taxed

Montana is one of the states where Social Security can still need a state-tax check.

AARP / IRS Pub. 915

Property tax

0.8%

Property tax is local, but the Montana state-level planning rate used here is 0.8% of home value. On a $350,000 home, that is about $2,900 a year before county detail.

Tax Foundation

Sales tax

Tax Foundation lists Montana with no broad state or average local sales tax in its 2026 combined-rate table.

Tax Foundation

Vehicle costs

Check cars

Vehicle costs need a separate check in Montana because value-based vehicle taxes or registration-linked property taxes can show up in the car budget.

FreeTaxUSA vehicle-tax guide

Build a map around Montana Price the Montana retirement number

Keep going

Start with the state. Then price the month.

When Montana still feels possible, keep reading here. When the question turns into dollars, open the number page, compare another state, or bring it into your map.

Monthly life

$4,725/mo

Cost index

94.6

Income tax

~5.0%

Social Security

Taxed

Number page

Price the month in Montana

Monthly spending, income gap, and savings runway.

Calculator

Compare another state

Put two places side by side before the move gets serious.

Care costs

Assisted living, nursing-home, and caregiver costs.

Build my Montana map

Long-term care in Montana

The care cliff, in Montana dollars.

CareScout and Genworth 2025 median costs, compared with the national median. Long-term care is a separate planning layer from ordinary Medicare costs.

Assisted living

$6,075/mo

About $72,900 a year, 2% lower than the national median.

Nursing home (semi-private)

$8,973/mo

About $107,675 a year, 6% lower than the national median.

Home caregiver

$7,245/mo

About $86,944 a year, 9% higher than the national median.

Full Montana long-term-care breakdown

Activities & recreation in Montana

What there is to do, with the sources.

How the things people retire for actually look in Montana. Each links to the full activity guide.

Hiking & trails

Montana has 55 state parks and is bordered by Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, offering trails from gentle riverside walks to high-alpine routes. Montana State Parks maintains a trails map and the state's Accessible Trails program marks routes suitable for those with limited mobility.

$354/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.

Published input

Montana State Parks: residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees. Nonresident day-use vehicle fee is $8. The resident parks fee is collected at vehicle registration.

Published range: $0 to $9.

Montana FWP State Parks Fees and General Information · as of 2025

Where to go

Montana State Parks

Pickleball & tennis

Billings Parks and Recreation offers open-play pickleball sessions, bootcamps with certified instructors, and reservable outdoor courts at Lillis Park and Central Park at $10 per hour. Missoula Parks and Recreation hosts recreational leagues at Fort Missoula Regional Park, and Pickleheads lists over 300 courts across 82 locations statewide.

$227/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.

Published input

Billings Parks and Recreation: outdoor courts at Lillis Park and Central Park are available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Court reservations available at $10 per hour. Billings YMCA indoor courts: $10/day or $20/week guest pass.

Published range: $0 to $10.

Billings Parks and Recreation Pickleball · as of 2026

Where to go

Billings Parks and Recreation - Pickleball

Arts & culture

Montana's cultural calendar includes the Missoula Symphony, Montana Museum of Art and Culture at the University of Montana, and the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls honoring the state's Western heritage. The Billings Symphony Orchestra and the Alberta Bair Theater host touring performances across a range of disciplines.

$331/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.

Published input

Missoula Art Museum (Missoula, MT): free admission. Montana Museum of Art and Culture at University of Montana (Missoula): free admission; $10 donation encouraged.

Missoula Art Museum · as of 2026

Where to go

Montana Museum of Art and Culture

Social & community

Montana's Senior and Long-Term Care Division, part of the Department of Public Health and Human Services, funds Area Agencies on Aging in five planning regions that coordinate senior centers, meals programs, and volunteer activities. The Montana Caregiver Network connects family caregivers to local support resources.

$170/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.

No state-published fee is attached to this activity, so the estimate uses the recurring-cost assumption only.

Where to go

Montana DPHHS Senior and Long-Term Care

Fishing

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks designates many of the state's rivers, including the Madison, Gallatin, and Missouri, as blue-ribbon trout fisheries with walk-in public access. Fishing licenses are available through the FWP portal, and the state requires a separate Conservation License alongside the fishing license.

$429/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.

Published input

Montana resident fishing license total cost: $21 base fishing license plus $8 Conservation License plus $2 Angler Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (AISPP) = $31 total per year. Senior 62+ resident Conservation License is $4; senior base fishing license is $10.50.

Published range: $17 to $31.

Montana FWP Fishing Licenses and Permits · as of 2026

Where to go

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks - Fishing

Boating & water

Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the contiguous United States, has multiple public marinas and boat ramps along its 185-mile shoreline. Montana FWP manages public boat access sites on dozens of rivers and reservoirs, and the state requires vessel registration for motorized craft.

$4,467/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.

Published input

Montana permanent boat registration (paid once via County Treasurer): motorboats less than 16 feet $65.50; motorboats 16 feet up to 19 feet $125.50; motorboats 19 feet and longer $295.50. Certificate of Ownership (title) additional $10.

Published range: $65.50 to $295.50.

Montana FWP Boating Rules and Regulations · as of 2026

Where to go

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks - Boating

Golf

Montana's public golf season runs roughly May through October given the mountain climate, and cities such as Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman each have multiple public courses open to all. Big Sky Resort operates an Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole public course open from mid-May through late September with tee times bookable online.

$1,332/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.

Published input

Briarwood Golf Club (Billings, MT): guest weekday 18-hole fee $35; guest weekend 18-hole fee $40. Public play available. Rates vary by season and tee time.

Published range: $35 to $40.

Briarwood Golf Club Billings Membership Dues and Fees 2025 · as of 2025

Where to go

Big Sky Resort Golf Course

Gardening

Montana State University Extension runs the Montana Master Gardener program through county Extension offices, and community gardens operate in Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman. The short mountain growing season typically runs from late May to early September, favoring cool-weather crops such as greens, root vegetables, and potatoes.

$557/yrEst.

Estimated annual hobby cost

Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.

Published input

Garden City Harvest community gardens (Missoula, MT): sliding-scale plot fee $45 to $85 per season plus $25 deposit. The published range runs from $45 to $85.

Published range: $45 to $85.

Garden City Harvest Community Gardens Missoula MT · as of 2026

Where to go

Montana State University Extension Master Gardener

Things to do in Montana

What a week can look like.

Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier

Going-to-the-Sun Road is the drive everyone comes for. It climbs straight over the mountains past the park's old lodges. The full road usually opens by late June, and the west entrance area stays open all year.

National Park Service

Relax at Lake McDonald

Not every day in Glacier has to be a climb. Lake McDonald and the Trail of the Cedars give you lakeside views, flat walks, and a boat ride at an easy pace.

Hike the national forests

Glacier is not the only option. Montana holds seven national forests, full of hiking, camping, and fishing. The range of trails means you can pick a hard climb or a short walk and a scenic drive.

National Park Service

What to know about Montana

What can change the month.

Montana taxes Social Security

Montana taxes your Social Security benefits, and how much depends on your income. Some military retirement income gets a partial exemption. So the rules change with the type of income you have.

Montana Department of Revenue

Property taxes have been climbing

Montana reappraises property values every two years, and fast price growth has pushed home values and tax bills up. The state projected the average home would come in about 21 percent higher in the next cycle.

Montana Free Press

A property tax rebate may apply

To take some of the sting out, Montana has offered homeowners a one-time rebate of up to $400 on property taxes paid. You have to own and live in the home to qualify. The state posts the current rules each year.

Montana Department of Revenue

Things to do in Montana

What there is to do across Montana.

billings · Billings, MT

Community & civic

Senior Bookmobile at Central Court Village

billings

The Senior Bookmobile will be at Central Court from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.

Bring the grandkids

Details at billings

Weighing two states?

Put Montana next to another state.

Compare cost of living, taxes, Social Security treatment, property and sales tax, and long-term-care costs side by side.

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Common questions

Retiring in Montana, answered.

Does Montana tax retirement income?

Montana is one of the states where Social Security can still need a state-tax check. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in Montana, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance. Montana can tax some Social Security income and uses a 5% blended planning rate for taxable retirement-income context.

AARP: how states tax retirement income

Is Montana cheaper or more expensive than average?

BEA regional price parities put Montana about 5.4% below the U.S. average cost level. That price level is the first reason a national retirement number needs a Montana translation.

BEA Regional Price Parities

What does long-term care cost in Montana?

In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, Montana assisted living runs about $72,900 a year (2% lower than the national median) and a semi-private nursing-home room about $107,675 a year (6% lower than the national median).

CareScout / Genworth Cost of Care

Does Montana tax retirement income?

Yes. Montana has a state income tax and taxes your Social Security benefits, with the amount based on your income. Some military retirement income can be partly exempt, so what you owe depends on the type of income you have.

Montana Department of Revenue

Sources

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