City Comparison

Billings vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Billings

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

Twin Falls

Idaho
92
Below Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$60,900
Median Income

The Verdict

6.5%

Living in Twin Falls costs 6.5% less than Billings. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Billings, you would need $70,408 in Twin Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
93
Billings
93
Twin Falls
Groceries
99
Billings
98
Twin Falls
Utilities
89
Billings
85
Twin Falls
Transportation
101
Billings
96
Twin Falls
Healthcare
102
Billings
94
Twin Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Billings has the same purchasing power as $70,408 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $79,891 in Billings.

Living in Billings vs Twin Falls

Housing Costs

Billings's housing index of 93 is equal to Twin Falls's 93, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $380,000. The $70,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,548 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $1,150/mo in Twin Falls, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 98 in Twin Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $466/month in Twin Falls. 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 Twin Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $340 in Twin Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 94 in Twin Falls. 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 $60,900 in Twin Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $66,196 respectively. Twin Falls 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 $1,421/month in Twin Falls. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Twin Falls, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Twin Falls is 6.5% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 98.
A $75,000 salary in Billings has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,408 in Twin Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Billings's housing index is 93 with median homes at $310,000, while Twin Falls's is 93 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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