City Comparison

Billings vs Everett

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Billings

Montana
98
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$55,438
Median Income

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

The Verdict

27.9%

Billings is 27.9% less expensive than Everett overall. A household earning $75,000 in Billings would need approximately $104,082 in Everett to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
93
Billings
192
Everett
Groceries
99
Billings
109
Everett
Utilities
89
Billings
92
Everett
Transportation
101
Billings
117
Everett
Healthcare
102
Billings
122
Everett

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Billings has the same purchasing power as $104,082 in Everett.

Conversely, $75,000 in Everett equals $54,044 in Billings.

Living in Billings vs Everett

Housing Costs

Billings's housing index of 93 is lower Everett's 192, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $575,000. The $265,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,220 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $1,800/mo in Everett, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 109 in Everett. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $518/month in Everett. Billings offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Billings and 92 in Everett. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $368 in Everett. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 122 in Everett. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,438 in Billings and $75,400 in Everett. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $55,441 respectively. Billings residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,294/month to housing in Billings vs $1,759/month in Everett. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 99 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Billings is 27.9% more affordable overall with an index of 98 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Billings has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,082 in Everett, based on the cost of living difference.
Billings's housing index is 93 with median homes at $310,000, while Everett's is 192 with median homes at $575,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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