Billings, MT vs Chico, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Chico, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.9% higher than Billings, MT.

Billings, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,480 / month
Chico, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,710 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Billings, MT and Chico, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Billings, MT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $367/month in Chico, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,398 in Chico, CA

Regional cost estimates: Billings, MT uses Boise, ID. Chico, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 3.9%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$367

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$4.4K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Billings, MT

Population:121K

Cost Index:

98.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$365K

Chico, CA

Population:101K

Cost Index:

102.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$449K

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Billings, MT

The Treasure State

121K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 121K residents.

Chico, CA

The Golden State

101K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 101K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Billings, MT vs Chico, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Billings, MT	Chico, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,529/mo	$2,920/mo	↑ $390more	15.4%
Other	$1,669/mo	$1,601/mo	↓ $68.00less	4.1%
Groceries	$954/mo	$1,002/mo	↑ $47.25more	5.0%
Healthcare	$628/mo	$586/mo	↓ $42.08less	6.7%
All Utilities	$474/mo	$501/mo	↑ $27.26more	5.8%
Transportation	$1,246/mo	$1,258/mo	↑ $11.75more	0.9%

Housing

↑ 15.4%

Billings, MT

$2,529

Chico, CA

$2,920

Difference

$390

Other

↓ 4.1%

Billings, MT

$1,669

Chico, CA

$1,601

Difference

$68.00

less

Groceries

↑ 5.0%

Billings, MT

$954

Chico, CA

$1,002

Difference

$47.25

Healthcare

↓ 6.7%

Billings, MT

$628

Chico, CA

$586

Difference

$42.08

less

All Utilities

↑ 5.8%

Billings, MT

$474

Chico, CA

$501

Difference

$27.26

Transportation

↑ 0.9%

Billings, MT

$1,246

Chico, CA

$1,258

Difference

$11.75

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,060

To$1,220

↑ $160

1 Bed

From$1,160

To$1,340

↑ $180

2 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,710

↑ $230

3 Bed

From$2,040

To$2,380

↑ $340

Billings, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,350/mo

Chico, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Billings, MT

$7,867

Monthly in Chico, CA

$367

Difference

Home Values

Billings

Chico

$365K

Median Value

$449K

↑ +0.6%

YoY Change

↑ +0.6%

↑ +38%

5-Year Change

↑ +8.5%

$319K - $524K

Price Range

$449K

Homes in Chico are 23% more expensive than Billings

Calculate payment - Billings Calculate payment - Chico

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.1K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$88.34

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.7%

Rate difference

Billings, MT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Montana State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.1%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,618/month

$103.4K

Chico, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Billings, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.8%

Chico, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Billings

Chico

44 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

62.8%

Good Air Days

49.7%

88 Moderate

Climate Risk

98 High

🔥💨

Top Hazards

🌊☀🫨

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

69 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

69 days

Before moving from Billings, MT to Chico, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Chico, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Billings, MT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Billings to Chico moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Chico, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Billings, MT vs Chico, CA

How do the cost estimates for Billings, MT and Chico, CA compare?

Chico, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.9% higher than Billings, MT. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Billings, MT, the model estimates $154,398 in Chico, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Billings, MT and Chico, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,480/month in Billings, MT and $1,710/month in Chico, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Montana and California on TaxTakeHome.com