Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Billings leads 15 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Oakland
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $599k less ($285,300 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $785/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,849)
61% less violent crime than Oakland
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $24,697/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,697 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Billings
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Violent Crime
61% lower
746.1 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Billings
Median Home Value
$599k less
$285,300 vs $883,800
Billings
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$24,697
$94,389 vs $69,692/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Billings is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 15 of 23 categories. Billings wins 15 and Oakland wins 8. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $883,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Oakland, CA are about 894 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.