CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Boise, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
ID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Billings is moderately cheaper than Boise — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $84,200 in Boise. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+36.4%
Billings
77.4
Boise
105.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Billings
96
Boise
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Billings
103.7
Boise
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Billings
93.8
Boise
94
Utilities2.3%
Billings
72.4
Boise
70.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Boise, ID
$84,200
$4,200 more needed in Boise

Formula: salary × (98.4 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.0524. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Billings, MT

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

Boise, ID

Median Home Price
$479,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
105.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.8×

Boise has 36.4% higher housing costs compared to Billings.

Income & Job Market

Billings, MT

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

Boise, ID

Median Household Income
$82,500
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
235,984
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingFinanceAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Billings, MT
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Boise, ID
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.