Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Billings, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.2% of gross income.

Billings rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Billings median rent
$1,437/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Montana)
$53,495/yr
Rent as % of income
32.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,458, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Billings's median rent of $1,437 exceeds that threshold by $100/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 55.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Billings, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Missoula, MT
$1,435/mo (32.2% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,410/mo (31.6% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,406/mo (31.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Billings

View full rent data for Billings, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Billings, MT?

Median rent in Billings is $1,437 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Montana earns about $53,495 a year, which makes that rent 32.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Billings?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Montana (~$53,495/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Billings's current median rent is $1,437/mo, which is $100/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Billings?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Montana works roughly 55.9 hours a month to cover Billings's median rent of $1,437.

Where is rent cheaper than Billings for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Missoula ($1,435/mo), Butte ($1,410/mo), Livingston ($1,406/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Montana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Billings, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.