Billings, MT Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Billings, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Billings →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Billings's population is about 117,093. On income, the typical household clears $69,692 a year, running roughly in line with the median household income across the cities we cover (-3%).
Expect a median home value of $285,300 in Billings, which runs below what we see across other cities (-13%). Median rent lands at $1,064/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
Buying a typical home in Billings would run about 4.1 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Billings's home prices climbed 1.18% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. FEMA rates Billings's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate — comparatively low, which tends to keep home insurance costs in check.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,064/mo in Billings would take 18.3% of your income.
$678/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($285,300) would take 26.2% of your income toward principal & interest.
$103/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Billings
Median home value is $285,300 and median gross rent is $1,064/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Yellowstone rose 1.18% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,417/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Billings's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Billings reported a violent crime rate of 765.3 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Billings
Planning a move to Billings? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Billings, MT?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Billings's median home value at $285,300, median rent at $1,064/month, and median household income at $69,692.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Billings?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Billings, where median rent runs $1,064/month, you'd want to earn about $42,560 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Billings.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Billings?
- Buying at Billings's median home value of $285,300 takes about $65,275 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $42,560 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,064/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Billings safe?
- FBI data puts Billings's violent crime rate at 765.3 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Billings →
Cities with a similar cost of living
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