What home projects cost in Montana
Construction workers in Montana earn $1,372 a week on average, -12.0% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about -5.4% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $9,700 less here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
Montana pays more than 12 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In Montana | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in Montana | $62,100 – $93,100 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in Montana | $12,900 – $20,300 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in Montana | $27,300 – $40,900 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in Montana | $4,100 – $6,100 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in Montana | $24,500 – $39,900 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in Montana | $4,850 – $7,950 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in Montana | $5,300 – $8,300 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in Montana | $126,000 – $214,600 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in Montana | $5,000 – $7,800 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in Montana | $30,200 – $49,200 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in Montana | $2,650 – $4,150 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In Montana | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in Montana | $600 – $1,000 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in Montana | $5,400 – $8,800 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in Montana | $6,000 – $9,800 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in Montana | $4,750 – $7,750 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in Montana | $4,150 – $6,750 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in Montana | $3,750 – $6,450 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in Montana | $31,500 – $53,700 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in Montana | $4,250 – $6,650 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in Montana | $6,900 – $10,800 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in Montana | $3,350 – $5,750 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in Montana | $2,650 – $4,450 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in Montana | $1,450 – $2,400 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in Montana | $1,900 – $3,200 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In Montana | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in Montana | $1,800 – $3,000 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in Montana | $5,000 – $8,200 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in Montana | $8,900 – $13,900 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in Montana | $4,350 – $7,050 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in Montana | $5,050 – $8,950 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in Montana | $1,000 – $1,800 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in Montana | $1,600 – $2,950 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in Montana | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in Montana | $3,750 – $6,650 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in Montana | $1,750 – $3,150 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in Montana | $5,350 – $9,950 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in Montana | $3,500 – $6,500 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the Montana figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in Montana.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. Montana averages $1,372 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 0.880. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 0.946.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside Montana is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about Montana costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in Montana?
- Construction wages in Montana run -12.0% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly -5.4% on the price of a job. Montana pays more than 12 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the Montana adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same -5.4%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $9,700 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in Montana, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in Montana?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $600 to $1,000 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $126,000 to $214,600. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in Montana?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.