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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 $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Billings | 5.9% | 0% | 0.74% | $43,617 |
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 comes in at #1. Rent is $1,383 a month. Household income is $71,855. The cost of living index is 81. That's more or less in line with the region.
Balance that against the cost side: Here's the state-level backdrop: Montana averages a 81 cost index, $1,383/mo — we had to double-check this one — rent, and $71,855 income across 1 cities. That's $512 less than the national rent average. Big Sky country with an inflating housing bubble — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Billings leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
120,864 residents · Montana
Here's Billings by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And from what we can tell, cost index: 81. Rent: $1,383/month. Income: $71,855/year. Home price: $390,654. Population: 120,864. The strongest category is Housing at 81; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,144 per year vs. the national median. If you've ever felt priced out, the numbers here offer a different path.
Billings ranks #1 in Montana for this analysis with a cost index of 81 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.