Last checked October 29, 2026.
Renting your own 1-bedroom in Columbia Falls takes about $52,100 a year at current asking rents, nearly as much as next-door Whitefish.
At a glance
| Population | 5,753 (July 2025 Census estimate) |
| Region | Glacier Country, Flathead County |
| Average 1-bedroom asking rent | $1,495 (listing sites, Oct 2026) |
| Median rent paid, Census | $1,016 all units (utilities included; 2020–2024 average) |
| Home prices | $607,467 typical value (Zillow, Sep 2026); $497,729 median sale (Redfin, 3 months ending Jun 2026) |
| Median home value, Census | $384,400 (2020–2024) |
| Median household income, Census | $75,766 (2020–2024) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $52,081 at current asking rents; $40,767 at the Census median rent (all unit sizes) |
| Electric and gas | Flathead Electric Cooperative; NorthWestern Energy gas |
| Resort tax | 3% on lodging, restaurant and prepared food, and bars, collected since October 1, 2021 (City of Columbia Falls); part of it funds a property tax rebate for city landowners |
| Hospital / airport | Nearest hospitals in Whitefish and Kalispell / Glacier Park International (FCA) |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper | $1,400 | $1,800 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Apartments.com | $1,590 | $1,722 | Oct 2026 |
The Census American Community Survey puts the median rent actually paid in Columbia Falls at $1,016 across all rentals, including utilities (Census ACS 2020–2024). That’s an average over five years and includes long-time tenants, so it runs below what a new renter is quoted today: listing sites average about $1,500 for a 1-bedroom. The Census 1-bedroom figure for Columbia Falls is too uncertain to use (a margin of error of about 50%).
Buying a home
Zillow’s typical home value was $607,467 in September 2026 (Zillow). Redfin’s most recent median sale price is older: $497,729 for the three months ending June 2026 (Redfin). See property tax for the 2026 homestead rate.
Property tax on a $497,729 home is about $2,098 a year if it’s your primary residence and about $5,023 as a second home, using the 531.148-mill total levy on 2026 Flathead County tax bills for City of Columbia Falls parcels, which includes a 31.594-mill resort tax relief reduction (our calculation; see property tax). City street maintenance and lighting assessments are billed on top, and parcels inside the city’s urban renewal district show part of their tax as a TIF line.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent (average 1-bedroom asking rent) | $1,495 |
| Electric and gas (Flathead Electric, 750 kWh, plus NorthWestern gas) | $140 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $3,094 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $52,081 ($25.04 an hour) |
Same budget as our salary calculator; the car and other lines are explained there.
Recent news
- The city council chose to manage growth without a moratorium; the sewer plant can serve about 8,174 people (Hungry Horse News, via the Daily Inter Lake, Feb 1, 2026).