City Comparison
Billings vs Boulder City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Boulder City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Billings
Boulder City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Billings is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
16% lower than in Boulder City.
| Metric | Billings | Boulder City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,390 | $1,495 | -7% |
| Groceries | $364 | $400 | -9% |
| Utilities | $306 | $180 | +70% |
| Transport | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,060 | $2,445 | -16% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Billings offers 23% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Billings delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Billings is estimated at
$71,000 vs $48,000 in Boulder City.
| Metric | Billings | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,328 | $55,647 |
| Salary Needed | $71,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 71,924 idx | 52,997 idx |
| Household Income | $73,712 | $74,757 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Boulder City runs warmer on average — a 69°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Boulder City comes out ahead with 339 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Boulder City sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Billings | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 69.00°F |
| Summer High | °F | 101.40°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 40.80°F |
| Rainfall | in | 5.90 in |
| Snowfall | in | 0.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 339 | |
| Humidity | % | 25.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Billings has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Boulder City.
Boulder City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Boulder City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Billings | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 25.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 35.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Billings is the larger city
— approximately 8.3x the population of Boulder City.
From a growth perspective, Billings is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Billings has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Billings | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 123,723 | 14,919 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | 0.09% |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 53.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.30% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Billings
Advantages
Billings offers a relatively low cost of living, with an index of 95 compared to the U.S. average of 100.
The city boasts a strong and resilient economy, driven by key sectors like healthcare, energy, and agriculture, with a job growth rate of 1.35% (2023-2024).
Residents benefit from advanced healthcare services, including the Billings Clinic, recognized as the best hospital in Southeast Montana.
Billings provides abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, with access to the Yellowstone River, Rimrocks, and proximity to Yellowstone National Park.
The average commute time is short, around 16.5 minutes, contributing to a more relaxed daily rhythm.
Drawbacks
The city has a low Transit Score of 25 and a Walk Score of 35, indicating high car dependency and limited public transportation options.
Safety scores are relatively low (40/100), and residents report lower feelings of safety in downtown areas compared to other communities.
Some everyday expenses, such as groceries and transportation, are slightly higher than the national average.
Winters can be cold and snowy, requiring preparation for harsh weather conditions.
While the city has a bike score of 63, it does not have many dedicated bike lanes.
Boulder City
Advantages
Strict municipal growth ordinances protect the town's historic charm and prevent over-urbanization per the City of Boulder City.
Proximity to Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides world-class boating, hiking, and outdoor recreation right next door per Census data.
Significantly lower crime rates and higher safety scores compared to nearby Las Vegas and regional averages per federal crime reports.
A peaceful, non-gambling environment offering a quiet residential escape from the neon and noise of the Las Vegas Strip per municipal code.
Active local community engagement with robust volunteerism, local parks, and dedicated community programming per Data USA.
Drawbacks
Limited housing inventory and strict growth caps drive up property values and home purchase prices per Zillow and U.S. Census data.
An older median age profile (53.5 years) results in fewer dynamic nightlife options and family-oriented entertainment venues per Census metrics.
High car dependency with limited public transportation options for commuting outside municipal boundaries per regional transit studies.
Extreme summer high temperatures exceeding 100°F restrict outdoor daytime activities during peak summer months per Open-Meteo climate data.
Local employment options within city limits are relatively scarce, requiring many residents to commute to Henderson or Las Vegas per local economic reports.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Billings
#515Montana, USA
51.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,390
Avg Salary
$68,328
Cost Index
95
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
35.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
3.30%
Livability
77
Business
68
Boulder City
#231Nevada, USA
62.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$55,647
Cost Index
105
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
339/yr
Avg Temp
69.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.09%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
78
Business
65
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