Columbia Falls, MT vs East Helena, MT

East Helena is moderately more affordable than Columbia Falls, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Columbia Falls scores 91 compared to 84 for East Helena, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Columbia Falls can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Columbia Falls is $1,003/month compared to $1,020/month in East Helena — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Columbia Falls has cheaper rent, East Helena actually has lower median home values ($254,400 vs $346,700).

Median household income in Columbia Falls is $65,313 compared to $53,611 in East Helena (+21.8%). While Columbia Falls is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Columbia Falls spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, less than the 22.8% in East Helena.