Chinook, MT vs Shelby, MT

Chinook, MT and Shelby, MT have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.7% difference in their overall index. Chinook scores 74 while Shelby scores 73 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Chinook is $811/month compared to $769/month in Shelby — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shelby has cheaper rent, Chinook actually has lower median home values ($205,900 vs $206,000).

Median household income in Chinook is $71,500 compared to $53,357 in Shelby (+34%). 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 17.3% in Shelby.