Is Billings cheaper than Nashville?

Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,417 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 18% cheaper. Median household income is $69,692 in Billings compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Nashville has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Billings or Nashville?

Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 140 in Nashville — 26% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Billings or Nashville?

School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Billings, MT vs Nashville, TN

Billings, MT versus Nashville, TN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,417 a month in Billings and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $69,692 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Billings takes affordability and safety, while Nashville takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Billings leads by 26% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Billings can feel further apart than Billings and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Billings and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Billings report Full Nashville report

Billings, MT

Rent: $1,417/mo
Median income: $69,692
Crime index: 103
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Nashville, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $71,328
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

18% cheaper

Billings rent is 18% cheaper than Nashville

Billings

Winner

$1,417/mo

Nashville

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,417 a month in Billings versus $1,730 in Nashville, so Billings is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,756 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Billings still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Nashville.

Median income

2% higher

Nashville's median income is 2% higher than Billings

Billings

$69,692

Nashville

Winner

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,328 in Nashville versus $69,692 in Billings, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Nashville — about $1,636 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

26% lower crime

Billings's crime index is 26% lower than Nashville

Billings

Winner

103 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Billings's crime index is 103 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Billings. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Billings is the easier city. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Billings and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Billings

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Billings, A- in Nashville). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

Neck and neck

Billings and Nashville are about even on typical weather.

Billings

79°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Billings and Nashville. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Billings and 79°F in Nashville. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Billings

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Billings is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,417 a month. Choose Billings if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Billings is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Nashville (103 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Billings report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($71,328). Start with Nashville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Billings vs Nashville, called

If safety is your priority, Billings is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Nashville pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Billings offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Billings vs Nashville FAQ

Is Billings cheaper than Nashville?: Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,417 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 18% cheaper. Median household income is $69,692 in Billings compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Nashville has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Billings or Nashville?: Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 140 in Nashville — 26% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Billings or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Billings?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps