Last checked October 30, 2026.
Montana is the only one of these six states with no sales tax, but its top income tax rate (5.65%) is the highest in the group, so a $60,000 earner pays more in these two taxes than in Wyoming, Washington or North Dakota and less than in Idaho or Colorado. Montana housing costs sit in the middle of the group, and its median household income is the lowest of the six.
Taxes
| State | Income tax, 2026 (single filer) | Combined state and local sales tax | Property tax paid as % of home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 4.7%, then 5.65% above $47,500 of taxable income | 0% | 0.72% |
| Idaho | 5.3% on taxable income above $4,811 | 6.03% | 0.49% |
| Wyoming | None | 5.39% | 0.57% |
| Colorado | Flat 4.4% | 7.89% | 0.48% |
| Washington | None on wages; 7% on capital gains (9.9% above $1 million) | 9.57% | 0.81% |
| North Dakota | 0% up to $48,475, then 1.95% and 2.5% | 7.09% | 0.99% |
Sources: Tax Foundation, 2026 state income tax rates and midyear 2026 sales tax rates (Idaho and North Dakota brackets use 2025 widths); Washington Department of Revenue (capital gains tiers). Property tax: our calculation, median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020–2024. Montana’s 2026 homestead rate isn’t reflected in those Census years (details).
Example: a single earner making $60,000
| State | State income tax | Sales tax on $20,000 of taxable purchases | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $0 | $1,078 | $1,078 |
| North Dakota | $0 | $1,418 | $1,418 |
| Washington | $0 | $1,914 | $1,914 |
| Montana | $2,063 | $0 | $2,063 |
| Idaho | $2,072 | $1,206 | $3,278 |
| Colorado | $1,932 | $1,578 | $3,510 |
Our approximate calculation: wages minus the $16,100 federal standard deduction, the rates above, and an average combined sales tax rate applied to $20,000 of taxable spending. It ignores credits, local income taxes and what each state exempts from sales tax (groceries, for example). The more you earn, the more Montana’s income tax matters; the more you spend on taxable goods, the more its lack of a sales tax helps.
Housing and income
| State | Median rent paid, 1-bedroom | Median rent paid, all units | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $851 | $1,081 | $375,800 | $72,509 |
| Idaho | $955 | $1,238 | $418,600 | $77,800 |
| Wyoming | $759 | $992 | $309,700 | $76,176 |
| Colorado | $1,553 | $1,761 | $539,400 | $95,470 |
| Washington | $1,568 | $1,760 | $564,600 | $98,141 |
| North Dakota | $788 | $954 | $249,900 | $76,657 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (tables B25031, B25064, B25077 and B19013 for each state; for example, Montana’s 1-bedroom rent). Rent paid includes utilities and long-time tenants, so current asking rents are higher. Statewide figures hide big differences between towns: see Montana towns compared.
Minimum wage
| State | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.73 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.71 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 |
| Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota | $7.25 (federal) | $7.25 |
Sources: Washington L&I; U.S. Department of Labor; Colorado 2027 rate as announced by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (ColoradoBiz); Montana.
Electricity
Average retail electricity prices across all customer types in 2024: North Dakota 7.93¢ per kWh, Wyoming 9.14¢, Idaho 9.51¢, Washington 10.13¢, Montana 10.83¢ and Colorado 12.07¢ (U.S. Energy Information Administration). Residential rates run higher; NorthWestern Energy’s 2026 residential rate in Montana is about 16¢ (Montana utility bills).