Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Tampa
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,422)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Homes cost $48k less ($285,300 vs $333,200)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 8 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
Tampa, FL
Pros
40% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$2,890
$69,692 vs $66,802/yr
Billings
Median Home Value
$48k less
$285,300 vs $333,200
Billings
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Violent Crime
40% lower
444.6 vs 746.1 per 100k
Tampa
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $333,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Tampa, FL are about 1,880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.