Best Cities for Remote Workers in Montana
Why Montana Works for Remote Workers
Montana ranks #4 out of 50 for remote workers β one of the best environments in the country for location-independent professionals. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. On that front, Montana's cost-of-living index of 90 is well below the national average β a remote worker earning a coastal salary here gains significant purchasing power.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 10.6% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. At 78.3% broadband coverage, connectivity could be a limiting factor outside major metros. One of Montana's strongest selling points for remote workers is outdoor access β with a score of 72/100, there's no shortage of parks, trails, and public land for mid-day breaks and weekend adventures.
The tax environment is favorable at 7.87% of income, letting remote workers keep more of their earnings. Housing affordability (score: 72/100) is a clear advantage β the median home costs $523,000, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # | City | Grade | Remote Workers Score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Outdoor Access | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalispell | A | 63.5 | 60.7 | 67 | 53 | 72 | 26,830 |
| 2 | Bozeman | A | 61.0 | 62.9 | 55 | 65 | 72 | 55,042 |
| 3 | Belgrade | A | 60.5 | 61.0 | 60 | 48 | 72 | 11,425 |
| 4 | Helena Valley West Central | B+ | 60.5 | 58.8 | 66 | 49 | 72 | 8,224 |
| 5 | Missoula | B+ | 60.0 | 58.6 | 72 | 58 | 72 | 77,763 |
| 6 | Helena | B+ | 60.0 | 58.4 | 68 | 57 | 72 | 33,126 |
| 7 | Whitefish | A | 58.5 | 61.6 | 57 | 41 | 72 | 8,422 |
| 8 | Billings | C+ | 58.3 | 52.9 | 77 | 56 | 72 | 120,874 |
| 9 | Miles City | B+ | 57.6 | 57.8 | 74 | 36 | 72 | 8,412 |
| 10 | Evergreen | B | 57.6 | 56.4 | 70 | 42 | 72 | 8,908 |
| 11 | Lockwood | B | 57.4 | 54.2 | 71 | 42 | 72 | 7,474 |
| 12 | Great Falls | C+ | 57.2 | 52.0 | 80 | 54 | 72 | 60,412 |
| 13 | Laurel | B | 56.2 | 53.6 | 72 | 39 | 72 | 7,198 |
| 14 | Helena Valley Southeast | B | 55.8 | 54.0 | 68 | 38 | 72 | 9,533 |
| 15 | Livingston | B | 55.5 | 54.8 | 68 | 38 | 72 | 8,635 |
| 16 | Sidney | B | 55.2 | 53.5 | 72 | 37 | 72 | 6,235 |
| 17 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | C+ | 54.8 | 52.9 | 75 | 31 | 72 | 9,512 |
| 18 | Butte-Silver Bow | C+ | 53.3 | 51.9 | 74 | 35 | 72 | 34,929 |
| 19 | Lewistown | C+ | 53.1 | 51.7 | 75 | 29 | 72 | 6,028 |
| 20 | Havre | D | 49.6 | 44.2 | 75 | 35 | 72 | 9,333 |