CostIndexUSA

Arlington, TX vs Billings, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Arlington
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Billings is moderately cheaper than Arlington — 9.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Arlington, you would need $72,600 in Billings. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing34.4%
Arlington
117.9
Billings
77.4
🛒 Groceries6.6%
Arlington
102.8
Billings
96
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Arlington
104.7
Billings
103.7
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Arlington
94.7
Billings
93.8
Utilities20.2%
Arlington
90.7
Billings
72.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Arlington to see what you'd need to earn in Billings to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Billings, MT
$72,600
$7,400 less needed in Billings

Formula: salary × (93.5 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.9069. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Arlington, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Billings, MT

Median Home Price
$392,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Arlington has 34.4% lower housing costs compared to Billings.

Income & Job Market

Arlington, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
394,266
Top Industries
EntertainmentManufacturingTechnologyHealthcareFinance

Billings, MT

Median Household Income
$70,800
Per Capita Income
$40,400
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
117,116
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareRetailAgricultureManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Arlington, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Billings, MT
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.