Billings vs Johnson City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Billings
Johnson City
The Verdict
Johnson City is 15.3% less expensive than Billings overall. A household earning $75,000 in Billings would need approximately $65,051 in Johnson City 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 Billings has the same purchasing power as $65,051 in Johnson City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Johnson City equals $86,471 in Billings.
Living in Billings vs Johnson City
Housing Costs
Billings's housing index of 93 is higher Johnson City's 66, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $276,000. The $34,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,208 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $1,025/mo in Johnson City, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 95 in Johnson City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $451/month in Johnson City. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Billings and 95 in Johnson City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $380 in Johnson City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 94 in Johnson City. 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 $55,438 in Billings and $55,400 in Johnson City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $65,176 respectively. Johnson City residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,294/month to housing in Billings vs $1,293/month in Johnson City. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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