Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Bowling Green?

Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $33,000 in Bowling Green.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Bowling Green?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Bowling Green under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Bowling Green Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Bowling Green, KY. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY — about 33% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Bowling Green, KY

Rent

Studio

$877

$878

+0% in Bowling Green, KY

1 Bedroom

$889

$833

+6% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$960

+13% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,214

+13% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$232,100

+26% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$48,419

+33% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$45,040

+8% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

27.9 yr

+10.2 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

37.3%

+27.5 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

32.0%

+5.0 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

18.8 min

+2.1 min in Bowling Green, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

231

+69% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,984.4

+4% 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

58.0°F

+9.8°F in Bowling Green, KY

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

49.9 in

+36.2 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

15.0

+2% in Bowling Green, KY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$29.48

+236% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Billings, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Billings, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Bowling Green, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Billings, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / KY)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.50%

+2.2 pp in MT

Billings vs Bowling Green — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Bowling Green?: Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Bowling Green?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $33,000 in Bowling Green.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Bowling Green?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Bowling Green under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).