Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 20% higher in Charleston, SC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,579
+80% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,430
+61% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,684
+53% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$2,076
+48% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$469,100
+50% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$90,038
+25% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$49,150
+0% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
36.1 yr
+2.0 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
55.6%
+9.2 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
57.7%
+20.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
16.7 min
23.8 min
+7.1 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
358.8
+52% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
2,035.1
+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
66.7°F
+18.5°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
44.4 in
+30.8 in in Charleston, SC

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
16.2
+10% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$27.35
+212% in Charleston, SC

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 Charleston, SC
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 / SC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.00%
+0.3 pp in SC

Billings vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Charleston?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Charleston?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).