salaryRent is higher than in 83% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.6 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are short, about 16.6 minutes. It is a highly educated city: 56.8% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $96,480 a year. That is $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Montana cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Montana. It is number 27 of 27 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Whitefish?
Share of households by yearly income. 31.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Whitefish
| Size | Whitefish | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $905 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $936 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,456 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,871 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,431 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Whitefish overall?
Everyday prices in Montana overall are 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.6, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Whitefish, so the Montana figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Whitefish
Life in Whitefish
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Whitefish?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,336 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $684,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $68,430 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Whitefish, MT?
Renting in Whitefish costs a median of about $2,412 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Montana median is $1,260.
How much do I need to make to live in Whitefish?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $96,480 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Whitefish cheap or expensive?
Whitefish is rated Expensive: rent takes 36.4% of the typical household income of $79,605. It ranks 27th cheapest of 27 Montana cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Whitefish?
The median homeowner in Whitefish pays $3,735 a year in property taxes, about 0.55% of the median home value.
Is Whitefish more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Montana are 5% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Whitefish?
The median home value in Whitefish is $684,300, about 8.6 times the typical yearly household income.
8,749 people live in Whitefish. Numbers are typical (middle) values.