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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 1 of 1 cities in Montana beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. It lines up with what you'd expect. Billings stands out at 100 on the index, with rent of $1,383/month and household income of $71,855. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (that's pre-tax,…
The numbers are clear: 1 of 1 cities in Montana beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. It lines up with what you'd expect. Billings stands out at 100 on the index, with rent of $1,383/month and household income of $71,855. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (that's pre-tax, of course).
On a $60K salary, the key number is $1,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. And on balance, billings ($1,383/mo, 28%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $43,617 to $43,617/year across these top picks.
Billings earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 100 cost index sits 12 points below the national baseline, and the $71,855 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $390,654 — $76,716 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 92, while Healthcare trails at 103.
It checks most boxes — but the healthcare costs are the asterisk. In Billings, the healthcare index sits at 103 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
#1 Ranked: Billings — cost index 100, rent $1,383/mo, income $71,855
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
120,864 residents · Montana
The #1 spot goes to Billings, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,383/month — saving renters $6,144 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 92, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 103. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Billings | 5.9% | 0% | 0.74% | $43,617 |
We calculate what percentage of a $60K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Billings ranks #1 in Montana for this analysis with a cost index of 100 and median income of $71,855.
Yes. On a $60K salary in Billings, rent would consume about 28% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Billings is $1,383/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $512 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.9% state income tax, estimated take-home on $60K in Billings is approximately $43,617/year ($3,635/month). After median rent of $1,383/month, you'd have roughly $27,021/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Billings is $390,654, which is 5.4× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Montana has a 5.9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 0%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.74%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.