Arizona
AZ • West
Quality of Life Score
51.01
State Comparison
Arizona vs Montana
Arizona is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Montana, Arizona has higher incomes, Arizona has lower state income tax, and Arizona gets more sunshine.
Arizona
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Montana
16
/ 31
metrics won
MT wins Quality of Life
AZ wins Climate
MT wins Income
AZ wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arizona
vs
Montana
winner
Montana scores higher on quality of life — 4.20 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Arizona is 2.1 points cheaper overall
Arizona has the lower cost-of-living index. Arizona is at 103.1, while Montana is at 105.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $3.18 further in Montana
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $107.15 of local buying power in Montana, versus $103.97 in Arizona.
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Income
Arizona income is 14.8% higher
Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, compared with $63,249 in Montana.
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Jobs
Arizona minimum wage is $3.80 higher
Arizona has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.35/hr, compared with $10.55/hr in Montana.
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Housing
Montana homes cost about 1.1x more
Arizona has the lower median home value at $327,400, versus $376,200 in Montana.
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Taxes
Arizona has lower state income tax
Arizona has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 2.50%, compared with 6.75% in Montana.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Arizona
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 2.5%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Montana
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.8%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (99.2 for Arizona, 97.2 for Montana). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Arizona
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Arizona
- Arizona has a lower overall cost of living.
- Arizona has a lower housing cost index.
- Arizona has lower median home values.
- Arizona shows higher median income.
- Arizona has lower property tax rates on average.
- Arizona has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arizona has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arizona health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Arizona health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Arizona education proxy is lower.
Montana
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Montana
- Montana has a lower violent crime rate.
- Montana health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Montana health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Montana education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Montana has a higher overall cost of living.
- Montana has a higher housing cost index.
- Montana has higher median home values.
- Montana shows lower median income.
- Montana has higher property tax rates on average.
- Montana has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AZ
|
MT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Phoenix | Helena |
|
State Color
|
Swing State | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
7,151,502
|
1,084,225
|
|
Median Income
|
$72,581
|
$63,249
|
|
Cost of Living
|
103.1
|
105.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$327,400
|
$376,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.48%
|
0.72%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
2.50%
|
6.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.35/hr
|
$10.55/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.742/gal
|
$3.796/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
15.61 c/kWh
|
12.86 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.01
|
55.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.3°F
|
42.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
193 days
|
82 days
|
|
Land Area
|
113,990 sq mi
|
147,040 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
62.7 per sq mi
|
7.4 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
February 14, 1912 (#48)
|
November 8, 1889 (#41)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
19
shown
Saving Money
Arizona is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.1 vs 105.2 in Montana. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Montana is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.796/gal in Montana vs $4.742/gal in Arizona. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Arizona has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.35/hr in Arizona vs $10.55/hr in Montana. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Montana has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.86 c/kWh in Montana vs 15.61 c/kWh in Arizona. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Arizona is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.51x in Arizona vs 5.95x in Montana. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Montana is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.5% in Montana vs 21.7% in Arizona. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Arizona vs Montana - Common Questions
Q Is Arizona cheaper to live in than Montana?
Arizona has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arizona scores 103.1 versus 105.2 for Montana - a gap of 2.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arizona or Montana?
$100 goes further in Montana. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $107.15 in Montana, compared with $103.97 in Arizona.
Q Which state is bigger - Arizona or Montana?
Montana is larger, covering 147,040 sq mi compared with 113,990 sq mi for Arizona - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Arizona or Montana have more people?
Arizona has the larger population at 7,151,502, compared with 1,084,225 in Montana.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arizona or Montana?
Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, versus $63,249 in Montana.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arizona or Montana?
Arizona has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 6.75% in Montana.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arizona or Montana?
Homes are cheaper in Arizona, where the median home value is $327,400, versus $376,200 in Montana.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arizona or Montana?
Arizona is more densely populated at 62.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Montana is more spread out at 7.4 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.