Why Retire in Montana

“Why retire in Montana?” is a reasonable question. Many retirees prefer to retire in the southern United States where there is warm weather year round and beautiful beaches where one can relax and soak up the sun.

Many people feel that Montana does not have much to offer a retiree. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Montana has a lot to offer a person who wants to enjoy his or her golden years to the full. It is simply an undiscovered and under-appreciated retirement paradise.

The Cost of Living

Montana has a very low cost of living. While the average American spends over $530 on food and drink every month, a person living in Montana only spends $390. Utilities come to about $180 a month and health care costs come to about $70 per month. The average price of a house in this mountainous state is just over $150,000. A retiree can rent a two bedroom apartment in Montana for between $500 and $750. The average American who opts to retire in Montana spends $2,300 a month on groceries, utilities, household supplies, travel and medical expenses, entertainment and insurance. In contrast, most Americans spend an average of $3,500 a month.

A person who opts to retire in this state will find that it is a very cheap place to live. In addition to the low cost of living, Montana also has a very low tax burden. Montana has no sales taxes and the overall tax burden comes to well under nine percent of one’s income.

 

Where Should One Retire in Montana?

There are several towns in Montana that are ideal retirement destinations. Some of the best towns to retire in are Kalispell, Bozeman and Red Lodge.

Kalispell is an ideal place to retire in Montana for a retiree who is still active. This small mountain town is one of America’s “Dream Towns” and is located less than an hour’s drive from Glacier National Park.

Red Lodge is similar to Kalispell in many ways, except that it is located a couple of hours away from Yellowstone National Park. Red Lodge offers many outdoor entertainment options and is a scenic, pleasant place to live.

Bozeman is not a big town, but it is larger than either Kalispell or Red Lodge. Bozeman is a particularly appealing retirement town as it offers many outdoor recreational opportunities as well as most of the amenities and entertainment opportunities that one would find in a large city. A retiree who is hoping to enjoy opera, live theater, art, museums, music and dance should seriously consider retiring in Bozeman.

A person who opts to retire in Montana is sure to enjoy the scenery and many entertainment opportunities. Furthermore, one will be able to live comfortably on a relatively small pension. Montana not only provides a high quality of life but also a very low cost of living. This small northern state is an ideal retirement destination for active retirees in particular, but it has much to offer senior citizens of all walks of life.

 

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