Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Boston?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $79,000 in Boston.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Boston?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Boston under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Billings vs Boston Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Billings, MT versus $2,290 in Boston, MA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $94,755 in Boston, MA — about 24% higher in Boston, MA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Boston, MA

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,890

+116% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,978

+122% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$2,155

+96% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$2,234

+60% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$710,400

+128% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$94,755

+32% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$66,620

+36% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

33.2 yr

+4.9 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

35.4%

+29.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

54.1%

+17.1 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

16.7 min

30.2 min

+13.5 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

630.2

+16% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,030.8

+35% in Billings, MT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

48.2°F

51.5°F

+3.3°F in Boston, MA

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

43.8 in

+30.1 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.95/gal

+8% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

28.8

+96% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$31.39

+258% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Billings, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Billings, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.00%

+3.3 pp in MA

Billings vs Boston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Boston?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Boston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $79,000 in Boston.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Boston?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Boston under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).