Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 21% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$877
$950
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,181
+33% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,508
+37% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,639
+17% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$252,400
+19% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$56,584
+21% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$61,470
+25% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
36.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
43.3%
+21.5 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
23.1%
+13.9 pp in Billings, MT
Avg Commute
16.7 min
29.9 min
+13.2 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
401.7
+46% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
1,478.4
+53% 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
52.5°F
+4.3°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
42.7 in
+29.1 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% in Billings, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
27.4
+87% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$23.33
+166% in Bridgeport, CT

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
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Bridgeport, CT
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 / CT)
None
6.35%
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.99%
+1.3 pp in CT

Billings vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Bridgeport?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Bridgeport?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).