Yellowstone County, MT at a glance
Median household income
$76,570$6,381 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Yellowstone County, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Yellowstone County, MT? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Billings, MT HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,016 | $12,192 | $40,640 | 15.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,109 | $13,308 | $44,360 | 17.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,417 | $17,004 | $56,680 | 22.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,951 | $23,412 | $78,040 | 30.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,216 | $26,592 | $88,640 | 34.7% |
Rent in Yellowstone County, MT, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Yellowstone County, MT
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $76,570 a year ($6,381 a month before tax).
What $76,570 leaves after Montana taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Montana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Montana
Living in Yellowstone County, MT: common questions
What is the median household income in Yellowstone County, MT?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Yellowstone County, MT is $76,570 per year (approximately $6,381 per month).
What is the average rent in Yellowstone County, MT?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,016 for a studio, $1,109 for one bedroom, $1,417 for two, $1,951 for three and $2,216 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Yellowstone County, MT expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 93.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Yellowstone County, MT?
To keep a $1,417 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $56,680 a year, or $4,723 a month. That is 74% of what the typical household in Yellowstone County, MT earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Yellowstone County, MT?
On the local median income of $76,570 ($6,381 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,190 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,914 for everything else and $1,276 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,417 takes 44% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Yellowstone County, MT?
Homes in Montana paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.