Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,030 in Billings, MT. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $71,855 in Billings, MT — about 12% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Billings, MT

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$877
+47% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$889
+44% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,102
+35% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,398
+10% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$311,800
+26% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$71,855
+12% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$49,060
+4% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
38.1 yr
+4.1 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
46.3%
64.8%
+18.5 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
37.0%
+21.4 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
16.7 min
+10.1 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
750.2
+24% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,123.5
+12% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
48.2°F
+14.4°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
13.7 in
+36.0 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.29/gal
+11% in Billings, MT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
14.7
+7% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$8.77
+74% in Atlanta, GA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Billings, MT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Billings, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Billings, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Billings, MT

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MT)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in GA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
5.65%
+0.5 pp in MT

Atlanta vs Billings — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Billings?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Billings?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $36,000 in Billings.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Billings?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Billings under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).