Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Billings leads 14 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $15,597 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Cons
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
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($226,200 vs $285,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Billings by $15,597/yr
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$15,597
$69,692 vs $54,095/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
3% lower
746.1 vs 769.9 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Columbia
Median Home Value
$59k less
$226,200 vs $285,300
Columbia
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.9 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,105 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 17.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 136,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 14 and Columbia wins 9. 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $226,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Columbia, SC are about 1,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.