Is Billings cheaper than Seattle?

Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 44% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Billings or Seattle?

Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 116 in Seattle — 11% 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 Seattle?

Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Billings — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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City comparison

Billings, MT vs Seattle, WA

Billings, MT versus Seattle, WA 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 $2,030 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $73,712 versus $123,860. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Billings takes affordability and safety, while Seattle takes job market, schools, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Seattle leads by 68% — 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 Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Billings and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Billings report Full Seattle report

Billings, MT

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

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,030/mo
Median income: $123,860
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

44% cheaper

Billings rent is 44% cheaper than Seattle

Billings

Winner

$1,138/mo

Seattle

$2,030/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Billings versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Billings is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $892/month back in your pocket — $10,704/year. Over five years that's $53,520 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 Seattle, 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

68% higher

Seattle's median income is 68% higher than Billings

Billings

$73,712

Seattle

Winner

$123,860

What this means for your life

Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $73,712 in Billings, so typical pay runs 68% higher in Seattle — about $50,148 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, Seattle 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

11% lower crime

Billings's crime index is 11% lower than Seattle

Billings

Winner

103 (100 = avg)

Seattle

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Billings's crime index is 103 versus 116 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Billings. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Billings, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Seattle. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

5% higher scores

Seattle's school scores are 5% higher than Billings

Billings

A- · 84/100

Seattle

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Seattle grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Billings — school scores run 5% higher in Seattle. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Billings is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

20% more comfortable

Seattle weather is 20% more comfortable than Billings

Billings

80°F typical

Seattle

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Seattle scores 20% 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 66°F in Seattle. Billings reads as warm weather most of the year; Seattle reads as mild, livable temperatures. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Seattle is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Billings can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

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 44% 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 11% lower than Seattle (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 Seattle

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 68% higher ($123,860), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Parents — or anyone planning kids in the next few years — should weight Seattle first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). Billings only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Seattle report →

Bottom line

Billings vs Seattle, called

If the job market is your priority, Seattle is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Billings pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Billings vs Seattle FAQ

Is Billings cheaper than Seattle?: Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 44% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Billings or Seattle?: Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 116 in Seattle — 11% 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 Seattle?: Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Billings — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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