State overview · MT
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Montana? Real data for 1 city, updated June 2026.
| City | Salary needed | Housing / mo | Median salary | Salary gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $100,500 | $1,417 | $49,060 | $51,440 |
Cost of Living in Montana
Billings, Montana's only tracked city, requires an annual income of $100,568 to cover typical living costs. That figure runs slightly above the national median of $97,658, so Billings costs a bit more than the average American city. The gap between what residents need and what they typically earn tells a harder story: the median local salary sits at $47,640, leaving a shortfall of $52,928 each year. A worker earning that local median would cover less than half of what a comfortable budget actually demands. These numbers reflect Billings alone and should not be read as a statewide picture.
CityWage currently tracks one city in Montana. The table below breaks down Billings's full cost profile, including monthly housing at $1,417.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cost of living in Billings, MT?
You need about $100,500 per year to live comfortably in Billings, based on the 50/30/20 budget rule applied to BLS and HUD data.
Does the median salary in Billings cover the cost of living?
Not on its own. The median local salary of $49,060 falls about $51,440 short of the $100,500 needed to live comfortably.
Is Billings above or below the national average?
Billings runs above the national median. It needs $100,500 per year versus the national figure of $97,559.