Independent Living in Montana

Montana is known as a retirement haven due to its senior-friendly tax policies and affordable cost of living. There’s no sales tax in Montana, and senior residents can save about 5.1% on their day-to-day expenses while enjoying life surrounded by beautiful and untouched natural scenery. The state has a population of just over one million people, and 19.3% of its residents are aged 65 and older, which is almost 3% more than the U.S. average.

Montana retirees have access to 65 hospitals and benefit from health care costs that are below the national median. The state is home to Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and it’s a great place to enjoy a four-season climate. Billings, the state’s largest city, receives an average of 46 inches of snowfall per year but enjoys pleasantly warm summers, with July highs of about 88 degrees.

Independent living communities offer seniors individual homes or apartments with total autonomy but very little in the way of maintenance responsibilities. They’re ideal for seniors who don’t need help with daily living tasks but would prefer to have assistance options available if needed. The average cost of independent living in Montana is $2,738 per month.

This guide provides more information about independent living costs, financing options and assistance programs available to seniors in Montana.

Note: Assisted Living costs are generally 30%-40% higher than Independent Living costs throughout the United States. However, no authoritative source specifically tracks those Independent Living costs. In the following material, we estimate Independent Living costs at 35% lower than the Assisted Living costs in Genworth Financial’s Cost of Care Survey.

Montana’s estimated average monthly cost for Independent Living, $2,893, is just a tad below the national average of $2,925. However, that still makes Montana one of the more expensive states in its region of the U.S. on that metric. To the south, Wyoming’s average monthly costs come in at $2,709, and Idaho is a bit cheaper than that at $2,495. Just to the east of Montana, the Dakotas have the lowest prices in the area for Independent Living at $2,204 in North Dakota and $2,178 in South Dakota. 

Prices for Independent Living across the state fall within a relatively narrow band, according to Genworth Financial’s data. The most expensive costs are on the far west side of the state in Missoula, where seniors can expect to pay on average roughly $3,023 per month for such lodging. Prices drop a little lower in Billings, which carries costs of approximately $2,967 a month. They’re at their cheapest in Great Falls, which runs around $2,698.

Other options for seniors seeking long-term lodging in Montana include in-home care through Homemaker or Home Health Aide services. These are good choices for seniors who wish to age in place; both services cost roughly $5,339 per month. Assisted Living is slightly cheaper than in-home care at $4,450 per month. Adult Day Care is the least expensive option at $2,600 a month but generally isn’t a sufficient level of support for seniors who need observation on nights and weekends. Nursing Home care is the most robust but also carries the steepest price tag at $7,574 per month for a semiprivate room and $8,060 for a private one.

Independent living may be offered in a stand-alone retirement community or a facility that offers a complete continuum of care including skilled nursing services. In addition to residential accommodations, independent living communities may offer services such as entertainment, transportation and prepared meals. Since independent living is designed for seniors who don’t need daily help, it’s typically not covered by insurance or government programs. Seniors may sell their home to pay for independent living. A reverse mortgage is an option that lets a senior retain ownership of their home while using their equity to finance the move. Long-term care insurance may also pay for some of the services delivered in these communities.