Pocatello, ID vs Billings, MT: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Billings, MT is 5.2% more expensive than Pocatello, ID (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Pocatello works out to about $78,900 in Billings, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.2% lower and other services 0.3% lower in Billings, while housing is 16.5% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,390 a month in Billings and $1,081 in Pocatello, $3,708 a year more in Billings (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $410,000 in Billings and $349,000 in Pocatello.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Billings was 8.9% more expensive than Pocatello.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Pocatello and Billings
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.9 | 93.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 66.4 | 77.4 |
| Utilities | 69.8 | 72.4 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.7 |
| Category | Pocatello | Billings | Billings vs Pocatello |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.9 | 93.5 | +5.2% |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.0 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 66.4 | 77.4 | +16.5% |
| Utilities | 69.8 | 72.4 | +3.8% |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.7 | −0.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,081 | $1,390 | +28.6% |
| Typical home value | $349,000 | $410,000 | +17.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Pocatello | $75,000 | $78,900 | +5.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Pocatello and Billings has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 4.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.1 | 95.0 |
| 2009 | 89.2 | 95.8 |
| 2010 | 90.3 | 95.0 |
| 2011 | 88.0 | 96.8 |
| 2012 | 91.0 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 91.7 | 96.3 |
| 2014 | 89.5 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 94.6 | 96.8 |
| 2016 | 89.0 | 94.8 |
| 2017 | 92.0 | 97.2 |
| 2018 | 89.1 | 94.2 |
| 2019 | 87.9 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 89.0 | 92.2 |
| 2021 | 88.5 | 92.3 |
| 2022 | 87.3 | 91.7 |
| 2023 | 88.6 | 90.4 |
| 2024 | 88.9 | 93.5 |
Goods
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.5 | 95.5 |
| 2009 | 100.2 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 99.9 | 99.4 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 99.2 |
| 2013 | 95.3 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 96.5 |
| 2015 | 103.4 | 96.9 |
| 2016 | 105.0 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 103.1 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 95.3 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 96.4 | 96.8 |
| 2022 | 95.9 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70.2 | 82.6 |
| 2009 | 57.0 | 72.0 |
| 2010 | 62.0 | 77.1 |
| 2011 | 52.0 | 78.8 |
| 2012 | 70.3 | 85.5 |
| 2013 | 70.5 | 83.3 |
| 2014 | 59.5 | 88.9 |
| 2015 | 71.9 | 87.1 |
| 2016 | 52.0 | 83.0 |
| 2017 | 62.3 | 85.4 |
| 2018 | 65.0 | 86.3 |
| 2019 | 60.2 | 86.7 |
| 2020 | 69.8 | 74.9 |
| 2021 | 71.0 | 85.0 |
| 2022 | 67.5 | 81.8 |
| 2023 | 71.1 | 72.9 |
| 2024 | 66.4 | 77.4 |
Utilities
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 65.2 | 79.7 |
| 2009 | 71.5 | 77.9 |
| 2010 | 75.0 | 82.9 |
| 2011 | 76.9 | 87.2 |
| 2012 | 78.9 | 89.1 |
| 2013 | 80.3 | 86.8 |
| 2014 | 81.4 | 88.7 |
| 2015 | 82.2 | 89.9 |
| 2016 | 86.3 | 86.1 |
| 2017 | 82.2 | 81.9 |
| 2018 | 73.4 | 76.2 |
| 2019 | 74.5 | 78.8 |
| 2020 | 74.2 | 79.2 |
| 2021 | 67.8 | 74.0 |
| 2022 | 66.3 | 72.8 |
| 2023 | 67.9 | 72.3 |
| 2024 | 69.8 | 72.4 |
Other services
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.2 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 99.4 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 102.4 |
| 2012 | 97.5 | 101.6 |
| 2013 | 99.3 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 98.9 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 99.0 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | 95.5 | 99.1 |
| 2017 | 99.1 | 100.0 |
| 2018 | 95.5 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 95.6 | 96.3 |
| 2021 | 91.9 | 92.5 |
| 2022 | 91.7 | 92.7 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 93.6 |
| 2024 | 99.0 | 98.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,390 in Billings vs $1,081 in Pocatello
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $806 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $821 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $821 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $813 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $826 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $826 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $841 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $815 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $839 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $842 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $842 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $833 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $839 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $855 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $861 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $861 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $866 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $890 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $880 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $886 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $896 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $915 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $950 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $965 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $962 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $1,060 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $1,070 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $1,070 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $934 | $1,116 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $957 | $1,188 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $943 | $1,220 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $942 | $1,197 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $987 | $1,227 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $994 | $1,253 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $990 | $1,253 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $967 | $1,239 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,000 | $1,253 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,035 | $1,287 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,023 | $1,292 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,007 | $1,277 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,026 | $1,292 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,067 | $1,331 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,086 | $1,341 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,045 | $1,327 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,055 | $1,344 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,076 | $1,373 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,081 | $1,390 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $410,000 in Billings vs $349,000 in Pocatello
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Pocatello, ID
- Billings, MT
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Pocatello, ID | Billings, MT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $142K | $233K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $143K | $236K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $146K | $239K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $148K | $242K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $149K | $242K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $152K | $240K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $154K | $237K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $156K | $236K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $157K | $239K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $159K | $243K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $161K | $244K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $163K | $245K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $166K | $247K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $171K | $249K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $178K | $252K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $182K | $253K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $188K | $257K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $194K | $261K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $199K | $265K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $206K | $267K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $213K | $271K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $218K | $273K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $227K | $278K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $238K | $285K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $252K | $296K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $273K | $310K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $294K | $323K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $306K | $337K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $319K | $352K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $333K | $368K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $331K | $372K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $324K | $373K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $322K | $372K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $327K | $381K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $330K | $389K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $333K | $389K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $336K | $391K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $339K | $393K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $339K | $395K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $345K | $399K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $347K | $400K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $344K | $399K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $343K | $399K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $346K | $404K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $348K | $407K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $347K | $408K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $349K | $410K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.