The Complete Guide to Retiring in Montana
Montana’s gorgeous scenery and quieter lifestyle appeal to many retirees. The access to outdoor activities that the state offers also makes it an enticing location to settle down.
In this article, we’ll provide more details about what retiring in Montana looks like, as well as provide you with some recommendations for what cities you might like to call home.
Key Takeaways
Montana has gorgeous scenery, making it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.
Winters can be cold and snowy, and parts of Montana are at risk for forest fires in the summer.
It can be difficult to access healthcare services in the more rural areas of the state.
What to expect from retiring in Montana
Known as “Big Sky Country”, the scenery in Montana is gorgeous. This includes picturesque lakes, the Rocky Mountains, and Glacier National Park, which are ideal for hiking, watching wildlife, and fly-fishing.
And, if you’re a golfer, the mountain scenery and lake views mean that there are plenty of championship and public courses. As a bonus, the higher altitudes can mean that you’re hitting the ball further.
Montana experiences all four seasons. While winters can be cold and snowy, winters tend to be milder in the western portion of the state. But if you’re into winter sports, Montana is a great place to enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, or ice fishing. You can also relax in one of Montana’s hot springs and enjoy the wintery views.
There are strong art communities throughout the state, especially in Bozeman and Livingston. Much of this art reflects the western frontier history of Montana, as well as features Indigenous art. This Old West influence spills over into music, with live folk, country, and bluegrass music to enjoy throughout the state.
The pros and cons of retiring in Montana
In this section, we’ll provide some more specific pros and cons about retiring in Montana to help you decide if the state suits your lifestyle.
Pros:
Montana has no state sales tax and low property taxes, which can help with affordability.
Montana’s gorgeous landscape is ideal for outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and golfing.
The lifestyle is slower and simpler, which can be appealing if you’re looking for a peaceful pace of life.
Cons:
Winters in Montana can be cold and snowy, which may be uncomfortable if you’re not used to winter weather.
Summers can be dry, which increases the risk of forest fires.
Parts of Montana are quite rural, which can make it more difficult to access healthcare services. This might also be isolating for those who are seeking a strong social community.
How retirement taxes work in Montana
Montana is one of the few states that taxes Social Security. However, there are low property taxes.
Social Security taxes: While Social Security is taxable in Montana, there is a deduction available if your income is below a certain threshold.
Retirement income deduction: Montana offers a retirement income deduction of $5,500 for individuals aged 65 or older.
Montana Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit: Individuals aged 62 years or older who have a combined household income of $45,000 are eligible for a refundable tax credit of up to $1,150.
Estate and inheritance taxes: There are no estate or inheritance taxes in Montana.
Low property taxes: The average effective property tax rate in Montana is 0.79%. The median annual payment is $2,419.
Is it expensive to live in Montana?
The cost of living in Montana is 21% higher than the national average. Housing is 3% higher. This means that the average cost of a home in Montana is about $461,000, and the average rent is $1,800. Costs tend to be higher in tourist-driven areas, like Bozeman, in comparison to more rural areas.
Housing and cost of living in Montana
Utilities in Montana are slightly lower, whereas food and healthcare are slightly higher.
There is no sales tax in Montana. This is important to keep in mind when weighing the affordability of different states.
How does retiring in Montana compare to Wyoming or Iowa?
Montana’s scenery and active lifestyle are unmatched, but the state does tend to be more expensive than Wyoming and Iowa. Wyoming has the lowest cost of living, and both Wyoming and Iowa don’t tax Social Security. However, both Wyoming and Iowa have state sales tax, whereas Montana does not.
Iowa offers the best access to healthcare services. While healthcare is accessible in the more urban areas of Montana, it is lacking in rural areas.
Best places to retire in Montana
Montana’s mix of more lively mid-sized cities and smaller towns means that there are both more luxurious places to retire and more affordable locations. Higher-end locations include:
Bozeman: A college town with a great mix of outdoor activities and amenities with a strong arts and food scene.
Big Sky: Known for its luxury resorts, skiing, golfing, and hiking are popular in the area.
Whitefish: A mountain resort town that is located near Glacier National Park and Whitefish Lake. Easy access to golfing, skiing, and fine dining.
Those who want to enjoy the Montana lifestyle on a more affordable budget might consider:
Great Falls: A city with a quiet pace of life and gorgeous views of the Missouri River.
Helena: An affordable city that offers urban amenities like a walkable downtown.
Butte: Surrounded by mountains and trails, making it a great location for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Retirement communities in Montana
If you’re looking for somewhere to retire with built-in amenities and a social community, then you might consider a retirement community. Some popular options include:
Holiday Grizzly Peak: Located in Missoula, with spacious apartments and a private dining area, bistro, and resident kitchen. There’s lots to keep you busy, including gardening workshops, meditation lessons, walking clubs, and live entertainment. Skilled medical care is available.
The Springs at Whitefish: Offering views of the Swan Mountain Range, The Springs provides a number of dining options. There are also lots of activities, including wellness programs, community connections, and off-site excursions. Assisted living and memory care are available.
Touchmark on Saddle Drive: With gorgeous views of the Rockies, apartment homes or more spacious private cottages are available. Five-star dining is right on-site, as are plenty of other activities, including walking groups, happy hours, glee club, fishing trips, and art classes. Assisted living and memory care are offered.
Senior health in Montana
Montana is ranked 34th on America’s Health Rankings’ Senior Report. For individuals living in more rural areas, it can be more difficult to access healthcare services. Healthcare services can also be more expensive in Montana.
Individuals living in rural areas can also feel more isolated, which may lead to feelings of loneliness and can impact mental health. Having a strong social community and regular check-ins with your doctor can be helpful.
Quality of healthcare in Montana
While it can be difficult to access healthcare services in the more rural areas of Montana, there are some high-quality healthcare centers with good access to specialized services in the more urban areas. These include Billings Clinic, Providence St. Patrick Hospital, and Logan Health Medical Center.
Big Sky Waiver assists individuals on Medicaid who are eligible for nursing home care but would prefer to remain in their own homes. The program provides helpful services, like personal care and respite care.
Medicare in Montana
There are approximately 263,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Montana, which makes up about 20% of the state’s population. Of this amount, about 70% remain on Original Medicare, whereas about 30% have switched to a Montana Medicare Advantage plan.
Big Sky Rx helps individuals who are eligible for Medicare pay for Medicare-approved prescription drug programs. To be eligible, individuals need to be a Medicare recipient with Montana as their main place of residence and earn an income that is under $31,300 for individuals or $42,300 for married and living together.
If you want to learn more about Medicare in Montana, you can speak with a Chapter Medicare Advisor. Call us at (855) 900-2427 or schedule a free consultation.
Retiring in Montana
If you’re someone who enjoys the outdoors, Montana can offer you a scenic lifestyle with a slower pace of life. However, it can be difficult to access healthcare services in the more rural areas of the state.