Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Columbus?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.

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 $42,000 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 Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Billings vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 9% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,014

+16% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,059

+19% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,276

+16% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,369

+2% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$234,500

+25% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$65,327

+9% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$51,340

+5% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

33.0 yr

+5.1 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

44.3%

+20.5 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

38.2%

+1.2 pp in Columbus, OH

Avg Commute

16.7 min

21.8 min

+5.1 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

485.2

+35% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,093.9

+1% 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

52.7°F

+4.5°F in Columbus, OH

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

40.1 in

+26.4 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$4.18/gal

+2% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs COTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

19.5

+33% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$22.83

+160% in Columbus, OH

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

$1.66

+19% in Billings, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / OH)

None

5.75%

+5.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.75%

+2.9 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 19% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
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 $42,000 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 Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).