Montana vs Texas

Side-by-side cost of living, income, housing and population. Calculator, charts and shareable results — official Census data.

Population, income, rent, home value and age for 2026. Shareable URL updates automatically.

Keep Your Standard — How Much There?

If you earn — in State A, what do you need in State B?

Need in State B
—
Difference
—
Verdict
—
Best Value — Most Affordable States
MS
Mississippi
~$52k income, $748 rent
Cheapest
WV
West Virginia
~$57k, $658 rent
Cheapest
AR
Arkansas
~$58k, $765 rent
Cheapest
AL
Alabama
~$62k, $846 rent
Cheapest

Lowest median home & rent, adjusted for income.

Population
Income & Housing
MetricMontanaTexasDifference (A−B)
Population
All residents
 1,105,072 29,640,343 HIGHER 28,535,271 (-96.3%)
Higher: Texas
Median Income
Household
 $69,922 $76,292 HIGHER $6,370 (-8.3%)
Higher: Texas
Median Rent
Gross rent
 $1,031 $1,339 HIGHER $308 (-23%)
Higher: Texas
Median Home Value
Owner-occupied
 $338,100 HIGHER $260,400 +$77,700 (+29.8%)
Higher: Montana
Median Age
Years
 40.2 HIGHER 35.5 +5 (+13.2%)
Higher: Montana
Living in Montana: big sky, bigger housing shock

Montana blends ranching, tourism, healthcare and a fast-growing remote-worker population around Bozeman, Missoula and Billings. The pandemic-era influx transformed the economy — and the housing market — almost overnight.

Formerly cheap mountain towns now post prices that shock longtime residents, while local wages in tourism and services lag far behind. Property taxes stay reasonable. Montana now works best for well-paid remote workers and retirees; locals increasingly feel priced out of the boom.

Full Montana profile →
Living in Texas: scale, jobs and no income tax

Texas operates at continental scale: energy in Houston, tech in Austin, finance in Dallas, logistics everywhere, plus military, healthcare and manufacturing. Job creation has led the nation for years and there is no state income tax.

The affordability edge has narrowed as Austin, Dallas and Houston housing climbed, though suburbs still beat coastal equivalents. Property taxes are steep and summer cooling bills real. Texas rewards strivers across industries — provided they price the property tax line before falling for the house prices.

Full Texas profile →
Verdict: Montana vs Texas
  • Texas earns more (median $76,292 vs $69,922).
  • Montana rents cheaper (median $1,031 vs $1,339).
  • Texas buys cheaper (median home $260,400 vs $338,100).
  • Texas takes it 2-1 across income, rent and home prices.
  • The widest gap is Median rent: Texas at $1,339 vs Montana at $1,031.
View Montana → View Texas →

Frequently asked questions

What data does this page show?

Compare cost of living, salaries, housing, rent, taxes and population between Montana and Texas. Calculator, charts and side-by-side table — official Census data.

Montana or Texas — which is cheaper?

Compare housing, rent, taxes and pay row by row in the table above.

What matters most when moving?

Housing cost first, then take-home pay after taxes, then rent and daily costs.

How current are the figures?

All figures reflect 2026 and update automatically from official sources.

Where do the numbers come from?

All figures are compiled from official U.S. government public data and refreshed automatically. LifeIndexData is 100% free to use and fully independent: we are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any bank, lender or financial institution, and advertising never influences our data or rankings.

How do I cite this page?

LifeIndexData. "Montana vs Texas — Cost of Living Comparison (2026)" (2026). https://lifeindexdata.com/usa/compare/montana/texas/

Is this financial advice?

No. All data is informational only — see our Disclaimer before making decisions.