CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Glendale, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
CA
Glendale
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Billings is significantly cheaper than Glendale — 21.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $97,200 in Glendale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+120.2%
Billings
77.4
Glendale
170.4
🛒 Groceries+11.0%
Billings
96
Glendale
106.6
🚗 Transportation+5.7%
Billings
103.7
Glendale
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.7%
Billings
93.8
Glendale
99.1
Utilities+119.1%
Billings
72.4
Glendale
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Glendale, CA
$97,200
$17,200 more needed in Glendale

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.2150. 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×

Glendale, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Glendale has 120.2% higher housing costs compared to Billings.

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

Glendale, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
196,543
Top Industries
EntertainmentHealthcareRetailManufacturingFinance

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)

Glendale, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.