Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Billings, MT?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 10.8% of gross income.
Billings rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).
About rent and a lawyer salary
Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Montana cities have lower median rent than Billings, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Billings
View full rent data for Billings, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Billings, MT?
Median rent in Billings is $1,393 a month. A typical lawyer in Montana earns about $155,294 a year, which makes that rent 10.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a lawyer afford in Billings?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Montana (~$155,294/yr) supports up to $3,882 a month in rent. Billings's current median rent is $1,393/mo, which leaves a $2,489/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Billings?
At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a lawyer in Montana works roughly 18.7 hours a month to cover Billings's median rent of $1,393.
Where is rent cheaper than Billings for a lawyer?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Great Falls ($1,388/mo), Butte ($1,385/mo), Great Falls ($1,378/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.