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 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Montana, Billings has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Montana's index of 102.
The standard of living in Billings ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 26 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Billings ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Treasure State.
For more reading on life in Billings, check out:
Billings Cost Of Living Vs. Montana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Billings. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Billings is 102.
The Groceries index in Billings is 104.
The Health index in Billings is 118.
The Housing index in Billings is 103.
The Transportation index in Billings is 108.
The Utilities index in Billings is 97.
| Living Expense | Billings | Montana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 102 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 118 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 100 | 100 |
Billings Cost Of Living Compared To Montana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Montana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Billings Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Billings is $392,208.
The Median Rent in Billings is $1,138.
The Median Income in Billings is $73,712.
The Home Value To Income in Billings is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Billings is 0.19x.
Billings, MT Costs By Category
Detailed Billings Services costs vs. Montana
Detailed Billings Groceries costs vs. Montana
Detailed Billings Health costs vs. Montana
Detailed Billings Transportation costs vs. Montana
Billings SnackAbility
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 97, 0.9x Billings.
Lockwood, MT has a cost of living index of 101, 0.9x Billings.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Billings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel, MT | 7,215 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Lockwood, MT | 7,181 | 101 | 0.9x |
