CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Billings — 10.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $71,500 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−44.7%
Billings
77.4
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−2.4%
Billings
96
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.1%
Billings
103.7
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.1%
Billings
93.8
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities≈ Equal
Billings
72.4
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$71,500
$8,500 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.8941. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Billings has 44.7% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Billings vs other cities

Billings, MT
vs
Bozeman, MT
Index: 93.5Index: 102.5
Billings, MT
vs
Missoula, MT
Index: 93.5Index: 96.4
Billings, MT
vs
Beaumont, TX
Index: 93.5Index: 90
Billings, MT
vs
Provo, UT
Index: 93.5Index: 98.2
Billings, MT
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 93.5Index: 91.5

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.