Shelby, MT vs St. Ignatius, MT

Shelby, MT and St. Ignatius, MT have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Shelby scores 73 while St. Ignatius 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 Shelby is $769/month compared to $792/month in St. Ignatius — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shelby has cheaper rent, St. Ignatius actually has lower median home values ($194,200 vs $206,000).

Median household income in Shelby is $53,357 compared to $50,781 in St. Ignatius (+5.1%). While Shelby is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Shelby spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in St. Ignatius.

Climate-wise, St. Ignatius is notably warmer with an average of 45.2°F compared to 41.8°F in Shelby. St. Ignatius receives more rainfall at 14.1" per year compared to 10.8" in Shelby.