Relocation profile · Federal data
Billings, MT
LiveAbility 51.7/100 places Billings #188 of 387 (middle third).
- 93.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,417
- 2BR rent / mo
- $64,222
- Median salary
- 51.7
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Billings ranks #188 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (51.7/100), with its strongest marks in schools and air quality.
- #188
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 1,137,233
- metro-area population
- 426
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 826
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (7/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Billings ranks #188 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 93.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,417/mo, median salary $64,222; LiveAbility Score 51.7/100, strongest in schools and air quality.
Signature: LiveAbility 51.7/100 places Billings #188 of 387 (middle third).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 93.5 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,417/mo.
LiveAbility 51.7/100 keeps Billings in the middle third (#188 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Billings area is 86,460.
Billings vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
52 Top 49% higher than 51% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Billings housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Billings MSA; housing RPP 77.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,417/mo.
Billings wages and employment
Billings posts 86,460 total employment with median salary $64,222.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,130 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,760 |
| Registered Nurses | $82,300 |
| General and Operations Managers | $96,980 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,850 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Billings area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Billings area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Billings's composite Life Score is 44.1/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Billings ranks #188 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 51.7/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Billings - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
93 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
78 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
64 /100
- Job market
Job market
56 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
50 /100
- Housing 36
Housing
36 /100
- Safety 25
Safety
25 /100
- Climate 7
Climate
7 /100
What this shows Billings's strongest dimensions are schools and air quality; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 7/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Billings to
Metros near Billings on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Billings on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Billings cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Billings wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Billings?
Billings runs a $64,222 median salary at a 93.5 cost index, ranking #188 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Billings's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Billings head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Billings
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.