Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Billings?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Billings?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $36,000 in Billings.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Billings?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Billings under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Billings Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,030 in Billings, MT. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $71,855 in Billings, MT — about 16% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Billings, MT

Rent

Studio

—

$877

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$889

+22% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,102

+52% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,398

+40% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$311,800

+55% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$71,855

+16% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,060

+21% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

38.1 yr

+2.8 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

46.0%

64.8%

+18.8 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

37.0%

+4.4 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

16.7 min

+2.0 min in Aurora, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

750.2

+21% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

3,123.5

+7% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

48.2°F

+2.0°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

13.7 in

+1.9 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$4.29/gal

+1% in Billings, MT

Area: Colorado vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

14.7

+9% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$8.77

+26% in Aurora, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MT)

2.9%

None

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

5.65%

+1.3 pp in MT

Aurora vs Billings — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Billings?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Billings?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $36,000 in Billings.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Billings?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).