Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Chula Vista, CA
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Chula Vista
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($285,300 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $971/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.6%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $32,292/yr
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $32,292 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Billings
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$362k less
$285,300 vs $647,100
Billings
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.8% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 74.6°F
Chula Vista
Median Income
$32,292
$101,984 vs $69,692/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
50% lower
375.8 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Chula Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $647,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $2,035⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $101,984 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 8.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Chula Vista Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 74.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 276,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Chula Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Chula Vista wins 10. 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 Chula Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $647,100 median home), income ($69,692 vs $101,984), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Chula Vista, CA are about 1,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.