CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Santa Rosa, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
CA
Santa Rosa
107.8
overall index
$2,600/mo rent

Billings is significantly cheaper than Santa Rosa — 15.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $92,200 in Santa Rosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+80.4%
Billings
77.4
Santa Rosa
139.6
🛒 Groceries+9.6%
Billings
96
Santa Rosa
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Billings
103.7
Santa Rosa
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.6%
Billings
93.8
Santa Rosa
95.3
Utilities+113.8%
Billings
72.4
Santa Rosa
154.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Rosa, CA
$92,200
$12,200 more needed in Santa Rosa

Formula: salary × (107.8 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.1529. 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×

Santa Rosa, CA

Median Home Price
$770,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,600
Housing Index
139.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Santa Rosa has 80.4% 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

Santa Rosa, CA

Median Household Income
$100,700
Per Capita Income
$57,400
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
178,127
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureTourismTechnologyRetail

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)

Santa Rosa, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.