Augusta-Richmond County Billings

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 91.9 → 93.5
Rent Delta: +$156/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $156/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More expensive childcare

Moving from Augusta-Richmond County to Billings shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 91.9 to 93.5 (100 = US average), so a Augusta-Richmond County salary needs to be multiplied by 1.02 to hold the same purchasing power in Billings. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,261/month in Augusta-Richmond County to $1,417/month in Billings - a higher monthly bill of $156, or $1,872/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $64,684 in Augusta-Richmond County versus $64,222 in Billings - a raw gap of $462 lower. The Billings labor market has 86,460 tracked jobs against 219,950 in Augusta-Richmond County, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Augusta-Richmond County and Billings are 300 and 426 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 11.8:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $6,591/year in Augusta-Richmond County versus $11,466/year in Billings. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Augusta-Richmond County
Billings
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 91.9
RPP 93.5
Augusta-Richmond County
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,261/mo
$1,417/mo
Augusta-Richmond County
💼 Wages
$64,684
$64,222
Augusta-Richmond County
🔒 Crime
300 per 100K
426 per 100K
Augusta-Richmond County
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
11.8:1
Billings
👶 Childcare
$6,591/yr
$11,466/yr
Augusta-Richmond County
🌿 Environment
2663 violations
1430 violations
Billings

Salary Adjustment Calculator

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

Equivalent salary in Billings
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Billings more expensive than Augusta-Richmond County?
Billings has an RPP of 93.5 compared to Augusta-Richmond County's 91.9 (100 = national average). Billings is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Billings is $1,417/mo vs $1,261/mo in Augusta-Richmond County.
What are salaries like in Billings compared to Augusta-Richmond County?
The median salary in Billings is $64,222 compared to $64,684 in Augusta-Richmond County. That's a -$462 difference.
Is Billings safer than Augusta-Richmond County?
The violent crime rate near Billings is 426 per 100K vs 300 per 100K near Augusta-Richmond County (state-level data). Augusta-Richmond County has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Billings to match my Augusta-Richmond County salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Augusta-Richmond County salary by 1.02. For example, a $75,000 salary in Augusta-Richmond County would need to be $76,324 in Billings. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)