Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Helena
Phoenix and Helena
Photo: RTC / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Helena are under the US rate in this release, 3.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Helena
In 2022-2023, 39 households filed a move from Phoenix to Helena (about 71 people, average adjusted gross income $89,436). 33 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,263 in Helena. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Helena has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Helena is 96% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Helena averages 197 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 19°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Helena and 26 in Phoenix.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 39 households moved Phoenix → Helena (about 71 people, average AGI $89,436). 33 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Helena changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,122 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,800–$5,250
- Container or pod
- $2,000–$3,700
- Rent a truck
- $1,100–$2,050
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Dig into Helena
Questions
Is Helena cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
No. Helena leaves about $50 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,263 in Helena.
Does Helena have state income tax?
Helena is in Montana, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Helena?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.