CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Dayton, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableOH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Dayton is slightly cheaper than Billings — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $79,300 in Dayton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.1%
Billings
77.4
Dayton
72.7
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Billings
96
Dayton
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Billings
103.7
Dayton
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Billings
93.8
Dayton
94
Utilities+31.8%
Billings
72.4
Dayton
95.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Dayton, OH
$79,300
$700 less needed in Dayton

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.9914. 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×

Dayton, OH

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Billings has 6.1% lower housing costs compared to Dayton.

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

Dayton, OH

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
137,630
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareMilitaryEducationGovernment

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)

Dayton, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.