The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Floor Layers: Billings vs Boulder

Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.

Best Value

Billings, MT

$50,351/yr

Take-home$3,063/mo
Disposable$780/mo
Lifestyle5/10 ยท Tight

Boulder, CO

$64,295/yr

Take-home$3,911/mo
Disposable$508/mo
Lifestyle4/10 ยท Tight
๐Ÿ†

Our recommendation: Billings, MT

Billings offers $272 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.

Full Breakdown

Billings

Boulder

Diff (Aโˆ’B)

Annual Gross Salary

$50,351

$64,295

$13,944

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$3,063

$3,911

$848

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

85

127

-42 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,283

$3,403

$1,120

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,250

$2,150

$900

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$780

$508

+$272

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home รท living costs. Higher is better

1.34ร—

1.15ร—

+0.19ร—

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

5/10 (Tight)

4/10 (Tight)

+1

A vs B

Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.