Last checked October 29, 2026.
Miles City, southeast Montana’s ranching hub, has some of the lowest rents we track: a single adult needs about $37,300 a year at current asking rents.
At a glance
| Population | 8,407 (Census ACS 2020–2024) |
| Region | Southeast Montana, Custer County |
| Average 1-bedroom asking rent | $637 (Zumper, Oct 2026) |
| Median rent paid, Census | $669 for a 1-bedroom; $996 for a 2-bedroom (utilities included; 2020–2024 average) |
| Home prices | $233,769 typical value (Zillow, Feb 2026) |
| Median home value, Census | $200,200 (2020–2024) |
| Median household income, Census | $67,727 (2020–2024) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $37,312 at current asking rents; $34,424 at the Census median 1-bedroom rent |
| Electric and gas | Montana-Dakota Utilities for both |
| Resort tax | None |
| Hospital / airport | Holy Rosary Health Center / nearest scheduled flights in Billings |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper | $637 | $775 | Oct 2026 |
The Census American Community Survey puts the median rent actually paid in Miles City at $669 for a 1-bedroom and $996 for a 2-bedroom, including utilities (Census ACS 2020–2024). Here the two measures are close; the Census figure includes utilities, while Zumper’s asking rent doesn’t.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent (average 1-bedroom asking rent) | $637 |
| Electric and gas (Montana-Dakota Utilities typical bills) | $190 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $2,286 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $37,312 ($17.94 an hour) |
Same budget as our salary calculator; the car and other lines are explained there.
Recent news
- Construction began on Saddlehorn Apartments, 30 affordable units (Miles City Star, Aug 2026).