Lewis and Clark County, MT at a glance
Median household income
$78,237$6,520 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Lewis and Clark County, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Lewis and Clark County, MT? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Lewis and Clark County, MT HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,136 | $13,632 | $45,440 | 17.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,319 | $15,828 | $52,760 | 20.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,647 | $19,764 | $65,880 | 25.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,250 | $27,000 | $90,000 | 34.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,496 | $29,952 | $99,840 | 38.3% |
Rent in Lewis and Clark County, MT, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Lewis and Clark County, MT
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $78,237 a year ($6,520 a month before tax).
What $78,237 leaves after Montana taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Montana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Montana
Living in Lewis and Clark County, MT: common questions
What is the median household income in Lewis and Clark County, MT?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Lewis and Clark County, MT is $78,237 per year (approximately $6,520 per month).
What is the average rent in Lewis and Clark County, MT?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,136 for a studio, $1,319 for one bedroom, $1,647 for two, $2,250 for three and $2,496 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Lewis and Clark County, MT expensive to live in?
Prices there run 4.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 95.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Lewis and Clark County, MT?
To keep a $1,647 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $65,880 a year, or $5,490 a month. That is 84% of what the typical household in Lewis and Clark County, MT earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Lewis and Clark County, MT?
On the local median income of $78,237 ($6,520 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,260 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,956 for everything else and $1,304 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,647 takes 51% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Lewis and Clark County, MT?
Homes in Montana paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.