CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
NJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

Billings is moderately cheaper than Trenton — 10.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $88,300 in Trenton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+74.5%
Billings
77.4
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Billings
96
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Billings
103.7
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Billings
93.8
Trenton
93
Utilities+55.1%
Billings
72.4
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$88,300
$8,300 more needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.1037. 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×

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Trenton has 74.5% 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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

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)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×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.