Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 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
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
29% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $13,572 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 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
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($133,800 vs $285,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Billings by $13,572/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$13,572
$69,692 vs $56,120/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
29% lower
746.1 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$152k less
$133,800 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Billings is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 14 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $133,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Kansas City, KS are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.