CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Billings, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Billings is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $78,300 in Billings. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing13.2%
Albuquerque
89.2
Billings
77.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Albuquerque
96.1
Billings
96
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Albuquerque
103.5
Billings
103.7
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Albuquerque
93.6
Billings
93.8
Utilities7.1%
Albuquerque
77.9
Billings
72.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Billings to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Billings, MT
$78,300
$1,700 less needed in Billings

Formula: salary × (93.5 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9791. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Billings, MT

Median Home Price
$392,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Albuquerque has 13.2% lower housing costs compared to Billings.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Billings, MT

Median Household Income
$70,800
Per Capita Income
$40,400
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
117,116
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareRetailAgricultureManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Billings, MT
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.