How Much Do You Need to Make to Live Comfortably in Billings, Montana? Merlin Lipin’s 2026 Guide

How much do you need to make to live comfortably in Billings, Montana?

For a single adult with no children, an income around $60,000 to $75,000 per year can provide a reasonable level of comfort in Billings depending on your housing, debt, and lifestyle. But there is no single salary that works for everyone. A household with children, childcare expenses, or a mortgage may need considerably more.

If you are considering a relocation to Billings, understanding the difference between simply covering your bills and actually living comfortably is important.

Here is what the numbers look like in 2026.

What Does “Living Comfortably” Actually Mean?

Before putting a number on it, you need to define comfortable.

A living wage generally means you can cover basic expenses such as:

• Housing
• Food
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Taxes
• Utilities
• Phone and internet
• Basic household expenses

But most people mean something different when they ask how much they need to live comfortably.

You probably also want room for things such as:

• Retirement contributions
• Emergency savings
• Eating out
• Travel
• Skiing, golf, camping, or other hobbies
• Home repairs
• A newer vehicle
• Pets
• Entertainment
• Unexpected expenses

That distinction matters.

The minimum income needed to cover necessities in Billings is not necessarily the same income you will personally consider comfortable.

What Is the Living Wage in Billings, Montana in 2026?

MIT's Living Wage Calculator provides one of the better benchmarks for this question.

For Yellowstone County, which includes Billings, MIT estimates that a single adult with no children needs to earn about $23.25 per hour to cover basic living expenses in 2026.

That equals approximately $48,358 per year before taxes for a full-time worker.

That is a useful baseline, but remember what it represents.

MIT is estimating the income needed for basic needs. It is not estimating a salary that provides extensive savings, vacations, large discretionary purchases, or an expensive lifestyle.

Here is how several household situations compare:

Household	Approximate Required Income Before Taxes
1 adult, no children	$48,358
1 adult, 1 child	$89,041
1 adult, 2 children	$117,289
2 adults, 1 working, no children	$67,430
2 adults, both working, no children	$65,645 combined
2 adults, both working, 1 child	$99,259 combined
2 adults, both working, 2 children	$121,731 combined

These estimates show why household size matters so much.

Childcare alone can dramatically change the amount of income a household needs. MIT estimates annual childcare costs of roughly $14,180 for one child and more than $26,000 for two children in a two-working-adult household in Yellowstone County.

So How Much Should a Single Person Make in Billings?

If you are single with no children, I would think about the numbers in three levels.

Around $48,000 to $55,000: Covering the Basics

This is around the range where a single adult may be able to cover normal necessities, particularly if you rent modestly and do not have significant debt.

But your margin for saving, traveling, eating out regularly, or handling major unexpected expenses may be limited.

Around $60,000 to $75,000: More Comfortable

For many single adults, this is a more realistic range if your goal is to live comfortably rather than simply meet your minimum expenses.

At this income level, depending on your housing and debt, you may have more room for:

• Retirement savings
• Emergency savings
• Recreation
• Restaurants
• Travel
• Vehicle expenses
• Higher-quality housing

This $60,000 to $75,000 range is not an official government threshold. It is a practical estimate derived from local living-wage data and current housing costs.

Your actual comfort level could be considerably higher or lower.

$80,000+: More Financial Flexibility

A single person making $80,000 or more in Billings may have substantially more flexibility, particularly if housing costs and consumer debt are controlled.

But income alone does not determine financial comfort.

Someone earning $65,000 with a modest apartment and no debt can have more disposable income than someone earning $100,000 with a large car payment, expensive mortgage, and significant monthly obligations.

How Much Does Rent Cost in Billings in 2026?

Housing will probably be your largest monthly expense.

As of September 2026, Apartments.com reports average Billings apartment rents of approximately:

• Studio: $1,048 per month
• 1 bedroom: $1,274 per month
• 2 bedrooms: $1,478 per month
• 3 bedrooms: $2,031 per month

Average apartment rent was about 0.7% lower than a year earlier.

Zillow measures the market differently and reports an overall average rent of about $1,478 across all property types and bedroom counts in Billings as of September 19, 2026.

Those numbers illustrate why you should look at the actual property type you need instead of relying on one citywide average.

A one-bedroom apartment and a three-bedroom single-family home are completely different budgets.

How Expensive Is Buying a Home in Billings?

If you are moving to Billings and planning to buy instead of rent, your income needs can change significantly.

Redfin reports that the median Billings home sold for approximately $389,642 in August 2026.

Homes were selling after a median of about 61 days on market, and prices were approximately 0.5% higher than a year earlier.

But the median sale price does not tell you what your personal mortgage payment would be.

Your payment depends on factors including:

• Purchase price
• Down payment
• Interest rate
• Loan program
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• Mortgage insurance, when applicable
• HOA dues, if applicable

This is why Merlin Lipin recommends talking with a qualified lender before deciding what income you "need" to buy in Billings.

A lender can tell you what you may qualify for.

Then you need to decide what payment you are actually comfortable carrying.

Those are not always the same number.

How Does the Average Billings Income Compare?

For additional context, the U.S. Census Bureau reports a median household income of approximately $73,712 in Billings based on 2020–2024 data.

Per-capita income was approximately $43,934.

Remember that household income and individual salary are different measurements.

A household could include one earner or several earners.

That is another reason statements such as "you need $70,000 to live in Billings" can be misleading without knowing the household.

Transportation Costs Matter More Than You May Expect

Billings has relatively short average commute times.

The Census Bureau reports a mean commute of approximately 16.5 minutes for Billings workers.

That can reduce the time you spend commuting compared with a larger metropolitan area.

But Billings remains a car-oriented city for many residents.

Your budget may need to include:

• Vehicle payment
• Fuel
• Auto insurance
• Tires
• Maintenance
• Winter driving expenses
• Registration

MIT estimates transportation expenses of roughly $9,242 per year for one adult with no children in Yellowstone County.

For larger households, that figure rises.

So do not evaluate Billings affordability based on rent or mortgage payments alone.

What About Utilities and Other Expenses?

Utilities vary substantially depending on the property.

A newer apartment and an older detached home can have very different heating and cooling costs.

Montana's climate also means energy use changes significantly throughout the year.

NorthWestern Energy provides natural gas and electric service under rates approved by the Montana Public Service Commission, but your actual bill depends on usage and property characteristics.

MIT's Yellowstone County estimates also budget approximately:

• $4,265 annually for food for one adult
• $2,861 for medical expenses
• $2,017 for internet and mobile service
• $9,242 for transportation

Again, these are estimates rather than guarantees.

Is $100,000 a Good Salary in Billings?

For many households, $100,000 is a strong income in Billings, but your circumstances still matter.

For a single person with reasonable housing costs and limited debt, $100,000 can provide substantial room beyond basic necessities.

For a household with children, childcare, multiple vehicles, a large mortgage, student loans, or other obligations, $100,000 may feel much less generous.

MIT's data illustrates this clearly.

A two-working-adult household with one child needs an estimated combined pre-tax income of approximately $99,259 just to meet its modeled basic living costs.

With two children, that estimate rises to approximately $121,731.

The number of people your income supports matters more than the headline salary.

Is Billings Affordable Compared With Other Places?

Billings can still offer relative value compared with some larger U.S. metropolitan areas and more expensive Montana housing markets.

For renters, Apartments.com currently reports average Billings rents approximately 23% below its reported national apartment average.

But "affordable" is relative.

If you are relocating from a higher-cost market, Billings housing may feel reasonable.

If you are moving from a small rural community with much lower home prices, Billings may feel expensive.

The better question is:

What will your income buy you in Billings compared with where you live now?

That is the comparison that actually matters.

How Much Income Do You Need to Buy a Home in Billings?

There is no responsible way to give one salary and say, "This is what you need."

Two buyers earning the same income can qualify for very different amounts because of differences in:

• Debt
• Credit
• Down payment
• Interest rate
• Loan type
• Property taxes
• Insurance
• Other financial obligations

Instead of starting with the maximum home price you can qualify for, start with the monthly payment you are comfortable making.

Then work backward.

A lender can help you determine the financing side, while a Billings real estate agent can help you understand what types of homes and locations exist within that price range.

What Salary Would I Personally Target Before Moving to Billings?

If you are planning a Billings relocation, here is a reasonable starting framework:

Single adult, no children:
Around $60,000–$75,000 provides more breathing room than the estimated basic living-wage threshold.

Single parent:
Your required income can increase dramatically because of housing and childcare. MIT estimates approximately $89,041 before taxes for one adult with one child.

Two working adults without children:
A combined household income in the $70,000+ range can exceed MIT's modeled basic-needs threshold, although lifestyle and housing choices still matter.

Two working adults with children:
A combined household income around $100,000–$125,000+ becomes much more relevant once childcare and larger housing needs enter the equation.

These are guidelines, not financial advice or guarantees.

Your actual budget should be built around your own expenses.

Planning a Move to Billings?

If you are considering relocating to Billings, your housing decision will have one of the biggest impacts on your cost of living.

Merlin Lipin, The Real Estate Wizard, is a licensed Montana REALTOR® with Engel & Völkers who works with buyers, sellers, investors, and relocation clients throughout Billings and surrounding Montana communities.

Merlin relocated to Montana himself and specializes in relocation, residential real estate, investment properties, new construction, land, and luxury homes.

His current website reports 17 sales during the past 12 months and more than 30 five-star reviews, while Realtor.com lists relocation among his specialties.

If you are trying to determine what your budget can realistically buy in Billings, Merlin can help you compare current homes, neighborhoods, property types, and market conditions based on your specific goals.

Contact Merlin Lipin

Merlin Lipin, REALTOR®
The Real Estate Wizard | Engel & Völkers
Billings, Montana

Phone: 406-561-1189
Email: merlin.lipin@engelvoelkers.com
Website: merlinmontanafinest.com