Alexandria vs Billings
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Billings
The Verdict
Billings is 48.0% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $50,690 in Billings to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $50,690 in Billings.
Conversely, $75,000 in Billings equals $110,969 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Billings
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Billings's 93, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $310,000. The $280,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,204 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,200/mo in Billings, a monthly difference of $925.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 99 in Billings. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $470/month in Billings. Billings offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 89 in Billings. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $356 in Billings. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 102 in Billings. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $55,438 in Billings. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $56,569 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,294/month in Billings. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 108 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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