Cost of Living in Billings, MT
| Cost of Living in Billings, MT | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 27% lower | 7% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% lower | 18% lower |
| Food | 2% higher | 3% higher |
| Healthcare | - | 11% higher |
| Transportation | 3% higher | 5% higher |
| Goods & Services | 11% lower | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Billings, MT is 13% lower than the state average and 3% lower than the national average. Billings, MT housing is 7% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 18% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% pricier in Billings, MT than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 11% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 2% cheaper in Billings, MT.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Billings is $1,513, while home prices circle around $499,020.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Billings, energy bills cost around $161.29 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.60 in Billings, a dozen eggs go for around $4.59 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.46.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Billings, an optometry check-up costs around $172.94, while a dentist appointment is priced $114.96 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.99 in Billings, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $79.61.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $37.10 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $32.01.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Billings, you should budget around $13.09 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $32.83, while dry cleaning costs about $22.97.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Billings, the median household income is $71,855.