Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Montana is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Billings leads at an index of 81 with rent at just $1,383/month — 27% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Billings — cost index 81, rent $1,383/mo, income $71,855
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Montana is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Billings leads at an index of 81 with rent at just $1,383/month — 27% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Billings earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 81 cost index sits 30 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, Housing leads the way at 81, while Healthcare trails at 96.
It's worth mentioning — though it's outside our data model — that cities with these economics tend to attract remote workers, which can push prices up over time.
The broader context shifts things: Across Montana, the average cost of living index is 81 — 30 points below the national median. Known for Big Sky country with an inflating housing bubble, the state offers 1 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,383/month — for better or worse — . That's $512 less than the national average of $1,895. For families with student loans, that cost gap is a second income.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
120,864 residents · Montana
A closer look at Billings: the cost index of 81 breaks down to a Housing index of 81 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 96 (weakest). Median rent is $1,383/month — 27% below the national median — while household income sits at $71,855, meaning locals spend about 23% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Billings | 5.9% | 0% | 0.74% | $100,633 |
We model what a $150K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 81 and median income of $71,855.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Billings, rent would consume about 11% 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 $150K in Billings is approximately $100,633/year ($8,386/month). After median rent of $1,383/month, you'd have roughly $84,037/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.