How much does it cost to live in Montana?
Home to 1.062Million citizens, Montana has the 25th lowest overall cost of living when compared to all other states. According to Bureau of Economic Analysis data, goods and services in the state cost 6.7% less than they do on a national level.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
On average, Montana renters pay $783 per month, $240 less than the national average of $1,023. If you want to buy a house in the state, the typical home value is worth $219,600, which is less than the national median home value of $408,800.
- Here are some stats on Montana Mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 67.8%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.1%
- Rental vacancy rate: 3.8%
Childcare
In Monatana, the average annual cost of infant care is $9,518—that’s $793 per month. Child care for a 4-year-old costs $8,365, or $697 each month.
Here’s a look at the annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $9,518
- 4-year-old: $8,365
- School: $8,1212
- College: $6,783
Utilities
Apartment utilities refer to the essential services required in a home such as gas, water, electricity, cable, and internet. A Montana resident can expect to spend up to $358 per month on apartment utilities on average.
Food & Groceries
A single adult in Montana spends an average of $3,178 on food each year, while a family of four's annual food cost reaches $9,179. These figures are based on a nutritionally appropriate diet purchased from a grocery shop and prepared at home.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant $13
- Fast food combo (big mac etc.) $8.19
- Bottle of Coca-Cola $1.92
- Bottle of water $1.02
Grocery shopping in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter) $0.89
- Loaf of fresh white bread (500g) $2.32
- Rice (1 Kg) $3.49
- Eggs (regular) (12) $2.12
- Chicken fillet (1kg) $8.85
- 4 Rolls of toilet paper $3.78
- Hair shampoo $5.15
Transportation
Compared to 85.5 % nationwide, 85.3 % of commuters in Montana drive to work. The average annual mileage for drivers in the state is 12,007 miles. The ordinary motorist in the state can anticipate spending $1,119 on gas alone in a year, taking into consideration average fuel economy and the average cost of gas.
The price of other forms of transportation and auto insurance can differ from state to state. According to data from Insure.com, the average vehicle insurance rate in Montana is $1,570, which is more than the $1,517 nationwide average. Additionally, the average single adult in the state spends $10,582 a year on transportation, according to statistics from the EPI.
Average Income & Taxes
The average yearly income of a single adult living in Montana is $54,5103 and the income tax system is progressive, with marginal income tax rates that range from 1.00% to 6.90%.
Most Expensive Montana Cities to Live in
- Bigfork
- Hamilton
- Whitefish
- Bozeman
- Missoula
Why is disability insurance important to have in Montana?
As shown by the above cost of living breakdown, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. But sometimes you find yourself unable to work due to some sort of emergency, illness or accident. Whether you are a full-time employee or a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability and peace of mind.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that medical issues caused 62.1% of bankruptcies. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you’ll no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas as well, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of the foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Montana are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, the foreclosure rate in the state reaches one in every 5,148 households.5
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury?
With that being said, getting a private disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable but your income shouldn’t be.
Does Montana have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Montana is not among these states.
Your file is transferred to Montana's Disability Determination Services (DDS) agency once Social Security accepts your disability application. The DDS in Montana is part of the state's Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). DDS claims examiners obtain your medical data from your doctors, review them, consult with an SSA doctor, and determine if you are handicapped under Social Security's definition.
If your initial claim is refused, you can request a reconsideration in Montana. DDS will review your file with a separate claims examiner. If your request for reconsideration is denied, you must request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The Office of Hearings Operations at Social Security manages ALJ hearings (OHO).
You will have to wait many months for a hearing date if you want one. In Montana, it takes an average of 15 months to get a hearing. Because you usually only have one chance at a hearing, you might consider hiring a disability lawyer to defend you.
What qualifies as disability in Montana?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double-check the criteria in the agreement that qualify you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Montana?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the best option in Montana. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times. Click here to get a quote, or contact us for any inquiries.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Montana?
Most insurances are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer a variety of disability income insurance policies. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Montana cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance: starting at $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Montana will cost you $3,5256 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work should not go to waste due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with DI.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital. We don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments, unlike other insurers and we'll just ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim, and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employees to corner office executives, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.