Chinook, MT vs Hot Springs, MT

Hot Springs is moderately more affordable than Chinook, with a 14.5% lower cost of living index. Chinook scores 74 compared to 65 for Hot Springs, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chinook can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chinook is $811/month compared to $683/month in Hot Springs — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hot Springs is more affordable at $139,100 median vs $205,900.

Median household income in Chinook is $71,500 compared to $21,319 in Hot Springs (+235.4%). While Chinook is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chinook spend roughly 13.6% of their income on rent, less than the 38.4% in Hot Springs. The Chinook ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.