Billings, Montana
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Billings, Montana
Moving to Billings, Montana puts you in the state’s largest city of roughly 122,000 people at a cost of living about 5% below the national average. Median rent runs $1,138 per month and home values average $343,400, but local wages average $29.76 per hour against a national $33.54. You get a 16.5-minute mean commute, two Level I trauma centers, and 50-plus miles of trails, with no general statewide sales tax.
Moving to Billings, Montana
Moving to Billings, Montana is a practical call if you want hospital-grade healthcare, real city amenities, and trails ten minutes from your door. The catch: you need a vehicle, winter is genuinely cold, and local wages trail the national average. Billings is Montana’s largest city, home to roughly 122,000 people (121,239 as of July 1, 2025, per the U.S. Census Bureau), with costs about 5% under the national average. We keep dated averages and current asking prices separate so your budget survives a real lease.
Is Billings, MT a Good Place to Live? (The Honest Snapshot)
The Magic City grew 3.5% from the April 2020 Census base. It is the regional hub for healthcare, commerce, and culture across the northern plains and northern Wyoming (WY). Four real seasons, and a layout that assumes you drive.
Most people who moved here recently wanted one of these:
- A short drive to work (16.5-minute mean commute, Census 2020–2024)
- Hospital systems and specialty care in their own city
- Hiking, biking, fishing, and skiing within reach
- No general statewide sales tax
Think twice if you need to live car-free on transit, expect coastal salaries to follow you to this new location, or have never driven a subzero January.
Cost of Living in Billings, MT: Rent, Home Prices and Sales Tax
Two rent numbers exist and they measure different things. The Census figure reflects what current residents pay. Asking rents reflect what is listed today.
| Measure | Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent (Census) | $1,138 | 2020–2024 |
| Studio asking rent | ~$1,062 | Oct. 2026 snapshot |
| 1BR asking rent | ~$1,274 | Oct. 2026 snapshot |
| 2BR asking rent | ~$1,471 | Oct. 2026 snapshot |
| 3BR asking rent | ~$2,023 | Oct. 2026 snapshot |
Asking rents were up about 0.3% year over year and change constantly, so verify before you budget. The Census put median owner-occupied home value at $343,400 (2020–2024), while current listing data runs closer to $395,000. Housing is the most expensive line in most budgets here.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator modeled $23.25 per hour for one adult with no children in Yellowstone County (updated Feb. 15, 2026). The lack of a general statewide sales tax earns a mention in every relocation conversation, but Montana taxes income: 4.7% up to $47,500 single filing, 5.65% above that for tax year 2026 (Montana Department of Revenue). Run your actual offer through our free Cost of Living Calculator.
Where to Live in Billings, MT: Location by Location
House hunting here is a commute-and-errands decision, not a ranking.
| Area | Housing and access |
|---|---|
| Downtown | Apartments and condos, walkable restaurants, events, office jobs |
| West End | Established homes, newer construction, apartments, retail |
| Shiloh | Newer development along a retail corridor |
| Billings Heights | Homes north of the Rimrocks, parks access |
| Midtown | Central, shopping, recreation, access in several directions |
| South Billings | Yellowstone River, parks, major transportation corridors |
The most important step, anywhere you rent, is address-level research:
- Drive the commute at your real departure time
- Confirm school assignment by exact address
- Check MET Transit routing for that block
- Verify internet service at the address, not the ZIP code
- Read the Billings Police 2025 annual report, organized across nine zones
Jobs and Wages in Billings, MT After You’ve Moved
The metro posts a preliminary 3.0% unemployment rate with about 95,200 nonfarm jobs in August 2026, though payrolls were down roughly 2.0% year over year (BLS). Steady, not booming. The average area wage was $29.76 per hour in May 2025 against $33.54 nationally, with management ($58.22) and healthcare practitioners ($52.08) at the top. The biggest employment shares sit in office and administrative support, food service, sales, transportation, and healthcare. I-90, I-94, rail, and air service keep regional trade busy.
If you moved here with a remote role, Montana generally taxes a resident’s income even when the employer sits elsewhere. Confirm residency rules with the Department of Revenue. Local job posts skew toward healthcare, trades, and service work, so your best opportunity may be the job you already have.
Schools and Hospitals for Families Who Moved Here
Billings Public Schools serves about 16,120 students across 21 elementary schools, six middle schools, three comprehensive high schools, a Career Center, and charter programs. Assignment is address-based, so use the School Locator before you sign, and know that out-of-area requests are not guaranteed. Kindergarten requires kiddos to be five on or before September 10, plus a birth certificate and immunization records. District-reported K–8 reading proficiency rose from 52% to 61% and math from 49% to 64% since 2022.
MSU Billings enrolled 4,145 students in fall 2025, alongside a private college and an osteopathic medical school. Healthcare is the anchor: two major hospital systems, both designated Level I/Comprehensive Trauma Centers by Montana DPHHS, more than 40 clinics, and VA services in town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Billings, MT a good place to live?
Yes, if you want regional-hub healthcare, a short commute, and outdoor access at a cost of living around 5% below the national average. Weigh that against below-average wages and a long winter.
Is Billings liberal or conservative?
More conservative than most larger U.S. metros, with the mix of views you would expect in a city this size.
What is the downfall of living in Montana?
Car dependence, long winters, wages that trail the national average, and distance from the nearest major metro.
How much do you need to make to live in Billings, Montana?
That question depends on household size. MIT models about $23.25 per hour for a single adult with no children in Yellowstone County (Feb. 2026), and median household income was $73,712 (Census, 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
Your Move-In Plan, Step by Step
- 60–45 days: Plan the budget, confirm school assignment, gather income proof
- 30 days: Tour or video-tour, test the commute, verify internet and heating costs
- Two weeks: Confirm lease terms, pet policy, snow removal, maintenance response times
- Moving week: Utilities, mail forwarding, driver’s license, registration
We are a full-service, broker-owned property management company, in business since 2009, with 683 units across 34 states and $187M in assets under management as of early 2025, and a reported 98% occupancy rate. Ready to move? Run our free Rent Calculator and Rent vs. Buy Calculator to compare your options. Own a rental here? List your property free or call (800) 716-4950. We keep all types of properties hands-off for owners: tenant placement, tenant screening, rent collection, property inspections, maintenance, rental permits, 1099s, court evictions, for about the price of a cup of coffee and a donut a day. Text (608) 207-0657 or email info@ktrents.com and our answer hits your inbox within 24 hours.