Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Montana vs Wyoming comes down to what you value. Wyoming is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 6% lower than Montana, so the same paycheck stretches further. Wyoming ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#24 vs #36), balancing cost against quality of life. Montana is strongest on air quality and weakest on climate; Wyoming is strongest on air quality and weakest on climate.
| Metric | Montana | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 1.00 0% above average | 0.94 6% below average |
| Best Life Rank | #36 | #24 |
| Cost of living | #31 | #23 |
| Climate | #37 | #38 |
| Healthcare | #27 | #30 |
| Schools | #28 | #29 |
| Safety | #24 | #10 |
| Economy | #25 | #33 |
| Air quality | #12 | #1 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Montana, you'd need about $93,500 in Wyoming.
To live the way $100,000 does in Wyoming, you'd need about $106,500 in Montana.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Montana taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Wyoming taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Wyoming is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 6% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 0.94 versus 1.00. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Wyoming ranks higher (#24 vs #36). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Montana leads on air quality while Wyoming leads on air quality.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Montana is roughly equivalent to $93,500 in Wyoming for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.