Providing Economic, Community, and Workforce Development Services.

The Flathead County cost-of-living index measures differences between areas in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non consumer expenditures. It is based on more than 60 items for which prices are collected quarterly. Local data is combined with information from 314 other communities to create the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. ACCRA is the national association of community and economic research
professionals. Other Montana areas participating in the survey include
Bozeman and Missoula.

The ACCRA Cost-of-Living Index for Flathead county in 2011 is as follows (average of 314 total urban areas = 100%

2010        2011
Composite                            98.8        98.5  down    .3%
Groceries                            116.3      109.6  down  6.7%
Housing                                95.2        95.7      up    .5%
Utilities                                82.2        85.5      up  3.3%
Transportation                    103.6      103.2  down    .4%
Health Care                        104.6      107.4      up   2.8%
Miscellaneous                       98.7       97.9      up     .1%

 

If you would like information on Cost of Living comparisons click here.  This will take you to the website where you can type in your current residence and compare it to where you are looking at relocating to.