CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Bowling Green, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Bowling Green is slightly cheaper than Billings — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $77,200 in Bowling Green. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.1%
Billings
77.4
Bowling Green
63.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Billings
96
Bowling Green
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Billings
103.7
Bowling Green
101.7
🏥 Healthcare1.9%
Billings
93.8
Bowling Green
92
Utilities+3.9%
Billings
72.4
Bowling Green
75.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Bowling Green, KY
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Bowling Green

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.9647. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Billings, MT

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

Bowling Green, KY

Median Home Price
$259,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
63.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Billings has 18.1% lower housing costs compared to Bowling Green.

Income & Job Market

Billings, MT

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

Bowling Green, KY

Median Household Income
$60,600
Per Capita Income
$34,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
72,294
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationRetailAutomotive

Affordability at a Glance

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

Billings, MT
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Bowling Green, KY
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.