Last checked October 29, 2026.
A single adult renting their own 1-bedroom in Kalispell needs about $50,100 a year, compared with a $47,150 median wage in western Montana’s non-metro areas. Electricity is cheaper here than in most of Montana because the Flathead Electric Cooperative supplies it.
At a glance
| Population | 31,851 (July 2025 Census estimate) |
| Region | Glacier Country, Flathead County |
| Average 1-bedroom / 2-bedroom rent | $1,386 / $1,776 |
| Median home sale price | $502,495 (Redfin, 3 months ending Aug 2026) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $50,089 full budget; $55,440 by the 30% rule |
| Median wage, all jobs | $47,150 (Western Montana nonmetro, May 2025) |
| Electric and gas | Flathead Electric Cooperative; NorthWestern Energy gas |
| Resort tax | None in Kalispell; 3% in nearby Whitefish |
| Airport / hospital | Glacier Park International / Logan Health Medical Center |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper | $1,225 | $1,800 | Oct 2026 |
| RentCafe | $1,565 | $1,869 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Apartments.com | $1,367 | $1,660 | Oct 2026 |
| Average | $1,386 | $1,776 |
Other sources fall in the same range: Zillow lists $1,595 and $1,900 (Zillow, Oct 28, 2026), and Rentometer’s medians are $1,400 and $1,625 (Rentometer, May 2026).
Buying a home
Redfin’s median sale price was $502,495 for the three months ending August 2026, flat from a year earlier (Redfin). Local Realtors reported a 2025 median of $560,000, up from $535,000 (Daily Inter Lake). See property tax for the 2026 homestead rate.
Property tax on a $502,495 home is about $2,485 a year if it’s your primary residence and about $5,941 as a second home, using the 622.25-mill total levy on 2026 Flathead County tax bills for city parcels (our calculation; see property tax). City special assessments for street maintenance, storm sewer, lighting and the urban forestry district are billed on top; on the 2026 bill we checked they came to about $276 for a 0.16-acre lot.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent | $1,386 |
| Electric (Flathead Electric, 750 kWh) and gas (NorthWestern) | $140 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $2,985 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $50,089 ($24.08 an hour) |
The electric figure leaves out Flathead Electric’s peak-hours demand charge ($4.93 per kW), which adds to the bill. Kalispell grew by 626 people in 2025, about half the previous year’s gain (Montana Free Press). Try your own numbers in the salary calculator.
Common questions
How much do you need to make to live in Kalispell?
About $50,100 a year before taxes ($24.08 an hour) for a single adult renting their own 1-bedroom, with a paid-off car and 10% saved, at 2026 asking rents and tax rates (our calculation). The median job in western Montana’s non-metro areas, which include Kalispell, paid $47,150 in May 2025 (BLS).
What is the average rent in Kalispell?
About $1,386 a month for a 1-bedroom and $1,776 for a 2-bedroom, the average of Zumper, RentCafe and Apartments.com asking rents in October 2026.
Is Kalispell cheaper than Whitefish?
Yes. On the same budget, renting your own 1-bedroom takes about $50,089 a year in Kalispell and $53,068 in Whitefish (2026 asking rents), and the median home sale price was about $502,000 in Kalispell against $894,000 in Whitefish (Redfin, 2026). Whitefish also charges a 3% resort tax.
Who provides electricity in Kalispell?
The Flathead Electric Cooperative, whose rates are lower than NorthWestern Energy’s; natural gas is from NorthWestern Energy. Typical bills (750 kWh of electricity before the peak-demand charge, plus 100 therms of gas) come to about $140 a month.
How much are property taxes in Kalispell?
About $2,485 a year on a $502,495 home (Redfin’s median sale price for the three months ending August 2026) that is your primary residence, or about $5,941 if it’s a second home. That uses the 622.25-mill total levy on 2026 Flathead County tax bills for city parcels and Montana’s 2026 homestead rates; city special assessments for streets, storm sewer and lighting are added to the bill.
Does Kalispell have a sales tax?
No. Montana has no general sales tax, and Kalispell has no resort tax.