Is Billings cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 38% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Billings or Denver?

Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 137 in Denver — 25% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Billings or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Billings, MT vs Denver, CO

Billings, MT versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,138 a month in Billings and $1,831 in Denver, and median household income lands at $73,712 versus $94,718. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Billings takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Billings leads by 38% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Billings can feel further apart than Billings and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Billings and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Billings report Full Denver report

Billings, MT

Rent: $1,138/mo
Median income: $73,712
Crime index: 103
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $1,831/mo
Median income: $94,718
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

38% cheaper

Billings rent is 38% cheaper than Denver

Billings

Winner

$1,138/mo

Denver

$1,831/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Billings versus $1,831 in Denver, so Billings is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $693/month back in your pocket — $8,316/year. Over five years that's $41,580 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Billings is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

28% higher

Denver's median income is 28% higher than Billings

Billings

$73,712

Denver

Winner

$94,718

What this means for your life

Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $73,712 in Billings, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Denver — about $21,006 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Billings can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

25% lower crime

Billings's crime index is 25% lower than Denver

Billings

Winner

103 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Billings's crime index is 103 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Billings. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Billings is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Billings and Denver are about even on school scores.

Billings

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Billings, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

7% more comfortable

Denver weather is 7% more comfortable than Billings

Billings

80°F typical

Denver

Winner

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 7% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Billings and 78°F in Denver. Billings reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Billings's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Billings

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Billings is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,138 a month. Choose Billings if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Billings is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Denver (103 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Billings report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 28% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 78°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Billings vs Denver, called

If cost of living is your priority, Billings is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Billings offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Billings vs Denver FAQ

Is Billings cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 38% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Billings or Denver?: Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 137 in Denver — 25% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Billings or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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