Fort Benton, MT vs Hot Springs, MT

Hot Springs is moderately more affordable than Fort Benton, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Fort Benton scores 72 compared to 65 for Hot Springs, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Benton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Benton is $745/month compared to $683/month in Hot Springs — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hot Springs is more affordable at $139,100 median vs $201,900.

Median household income in Fort Benton is $67,171 compared to $21,319 in Hot Springs (+215.1%). While Fort Benton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Benton spend roughly 13.3% of their income on rent, less than the 38.4% in Hot Springs. The Fort Benton ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, Hot Springs is notably warmer with an average of 47.7°F compared to 44.6°F in Fort Benton. Hot Springs receives more rainfall at 16.4" per year compared to 14.8" in Fort Benton.