CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
AZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Billings is moderately cheaper than Tempe — 10.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $88,400 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+56.6%
Billings
77.4
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.0%
Billings
96
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+5.3%
Billings
103.7
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.3%
Billings
93.8
Tempe
98.8
Utilities+28.9%
Billings
72.4
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$88,400
$8,400 more needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.1048. 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×

Tempe, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Tempe has 56.6% 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

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

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)

Tempe, AZ
4.1×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.