Billings vs Meridian
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Billings
Meridian
The Verdict
Billings is 18.3% less expensive than Meridian overall. A household earning $75,000 in Billings would need approximately $91,837 in Meridian 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 $91,837 in Meridian.
Conversely, $75,000 in Meridian equals $61,250 in Billings.
Living in Billings vs Meridian
Housing Costs
Billings's housing index of 93 is lower Meridian's 154, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $509,000. The $199,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,936 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $1,725/mo in Meridian, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 104 in Meridian. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $494/month in Meridian. 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 86 in Meridian. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $344 in Meridian. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 103 in Meridian. 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 $99,700 in Meridian. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $83,083 respectively. Meridian 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 $2,326/month in Meridian. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Meridian, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 61 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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