Billings, MT Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Billings, MT Summary

Cost of living in Billings research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Billings is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Montana, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Billings is 101, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Billings is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Billings ranks as the #18 cheapest in Montana out of 23.

  • Billings ranks as the #3,263 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Billings is $248,800.

  • The median income in Billings is $63,608.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
101
Billings's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Billings, MT?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Billings has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Montana, Billings has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Montana's index of 103.

The standard of living in Billings ranks as #18 most affordable out of the 23 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Billings ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Treasure State.

For more reading on life in Billings, check out:

18 out of 23
In Montana
3,263 out of 6,412
In America

Billings Cost Of Living Vs. Montana

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Billings. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Billings is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Billings is 100.

  • The Health index in Billings is 94.

  • The Housing index in Billings is 101.

  • The Transportation index in Billings is 91.

  • The Utilities index in Billings is 88.

Living Expense Billings Montana National Average
Overall 101 103 100
Services 102 102 100
Groceries 100 101 100
Health 94 98 100
Housing 101 107 100
Transportation 91 111 100
Utilities 88 89 100
For more reading on cost of living around Montana, check out:
Billings Cost of Living Vs. MT

Billings, MT Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Montana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Billings is $248,800.

  • The Median Rent in Billings is $965.

  • The Median Income in Billings is $63,608.

  • The Home Value To Income in Billings is 3.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Billings is 0.18x.

Statistic Billings Montana United States
Median Home Value $248,800 $263,700 $244,900
Median Rent $965 $886 $1,163
Median Income $63,608 $60,560 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.9x 4.4x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Billings, MT
$248,800
Median Home Value
$965
Median Rent
$63,608
Median Income

Billings, MT Costs By Category

Detailed Billings Services Costs Vs. Montana

Item Billings Montana
Shampoo $0.93 $1.06
Movie $11.29 $10.68
Bowling $15.74 $14.67
Haircut $25.25 $18.62
Beauty Salon $38.69 $39.05

Detailed Billings Groceries Costs Vs. Montana

Item Billings Montana
Ground Beef $4.85 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.4 $1.39
Milk $2.33 $2.05
Potatoes $3.39 $3.29
Pizza $11.02 $10.62
Beer $8.69 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.8 $2.34

Detailed Billings Health Costs Vs. Montana

Item Billings Montana
Optometrist $132.98 $108.57
Doctor $96.5 $116.17
Dentist $96.5 $99.13

Detailed Billings Transportation Costs Vs. Montana

Item Billings Montana
Gasoline $2.2 $2.22
Tire Balancing $38.47 $50.07

Detailed Billings Utilities Costs Vs. Montana

Item Billings Montana
All Electricity $136.2 $167.67
Phone $176.16 $175.64

Billings SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
7
Safety
3
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Billings

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Billings. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Laurel, MT has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Billings.

  • Lockwood, MT has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Billings.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Billings
Laurel, MT 7,164 94 0.9x
Lockwood, MT 7,162 96 1.0x

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