Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 12 of 22 categories
Billings
Montana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($285,300 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $453/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,517)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $14,199/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Charleston, SC
Pros
52% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $14,199 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$154k less
$285,300 vs $438,900
Charleston
Median Income
$14,199
$83,891 vs $69,692/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
52% lower
357.6 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 95.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 149,960 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charleston leads 12 of 22 categories. Billings wins 10 and Charleston wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Billings to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $438,900 median home), income ($69,692 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Charleston, SC are about 1,757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.