Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Columbus?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Columbus?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Billings vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 21% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$877

$826

+6% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$875

+2% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$991

+10% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,221

+13% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$182,300

+42% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$56,622

+21% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$43,540

+11% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.1 yr

+3.0 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

50.2%

+14.6 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

29.7%

+7.3 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

20.2 min

+3.5 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

612.3

+18% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,273.4

+27% 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

65.7°F

+17.5°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

46.8 in

+33.1 in in Columbus, GA

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

15.8

+8% in Columbus, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$33.28

+279% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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 / GA)

None

+4.0 pp in GA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

5.19%

+0.5 pp in MT

Billings vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Columbus?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Columbus?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).