Billings vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Billings
Lakewood
The Verdict
Billings is 26.3% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Billings would need approximately $101,786 in Lakewood 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 $101,786 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $55,263 in Billings.
Living in Billings vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Billings's housing index of 93 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $574,000. The $264,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,160 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $650.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $480/month in Lakewood. 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 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $340 in Lakewood. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $63,008 respectively. Lakewood 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 $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 95 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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