Last checked October 30, 2026.
Homeowners insurance in Montana costs roughly $2,400 to $3,100 a year for a typical policy in 2026, depending on whose estimate you use, and insurers are dropping some homes in wildfire country. Renters insurance runs about $15 to $24 a month.
Homeowners insurance
| Estimate | Average a year | What it assumes |
|---|---|---|
| NerdWallet (updated March 2026) | $3,100 | $300,000 dwelling coverage, $300,000 liability, $1,000 deductible, good credit. NerdWallet puts this 57% above the national average. |
| Insurify (March 2026) | $2,399 in 2025, about $2,437 projected for 2026 | Insurify’s own quote data; 2025 was up 18% from 2024. |
| Census survey, cited by the state insurance commissioner (October 2025) | Typical range $1,500–$1,999 with a mortgage, $1,000–$1,499 without | What Montana households report paying, 2024. Many older policies cost less than a new quote today. |
Our rent vs. buy calculator uses $2,770 a year, the average of the NerdWallet and Insurify figures. Both are commercial estimates; there’s no official 2026 state average. Commissioner James Brown has said Montana saw the highest increase in average homeowner premiums in National Association of Insurance Commissioners data, 74% from 2018 to 2024 (44% after inflation) (Daily Montanan, August 2026).
Wildfire and getting coverage
- In August 2026, Commissioner James Brown reported high rates of non-renewals in Ravalli and Flathead counties because of perceived wildfire risk, and said his office plans to ask the 2027 Legislature for a wildfire mitigation grant or discount program (Daily Montanan).
- In July 2025 the commissioner’s office told insurers they may not deny or drop policies based solely on wildfire risk, following complaints about blanket denials (PropertyCasualty360).
- Under a 2025 law (HB 533), you can ask your insurer for your home’s wildfire risk score, who produced it and the main factors hurting it; insurers must answer within 30 days (Insurance Business, May 2025).
If you’re buying in the woods, get an insurance quote before you make an offer, not after. Defensible space, a metal roof and ember-resistant vents can help.
Flood insurance
Standard home policies don’t cover floods. Federal flood insurance (NFIP) is available only in communities that take part in the program; ask your county floodplain administrator or see the Montana DNRC flood insurance FAQ. If your lender says the home is in a mapped flood zone, flood coverage will be required.
Renters insurance
| Estimate | Average a month | What it assumes |
|---|---|---|
| MoneyGeek (October 2026) | About $15 | $20,000 belongings, $100,000 liability, $500 deductible |
| Insurance.com (February 2026) | About $22 | $40,000 belongings, $100,000 liability, $1,000 deductible |
| Insure.com (September 2026) | About $24 | $40,000 belongings, $300,000 liability, $1,000 deductible |
Our salary calculator uses $15 a month, the lowest-coverage estimate. More coverage costs more.