Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Dallas?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $51,000 in Dallas.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Dallas?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Billings vs Dallas Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 6% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,259

+44% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,280

+44% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,500

+36% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,559

+12% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$295,300

+5% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$67,760

+6% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$51,440

+5% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

33.4 yr

+4.7 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

42.4%

+22.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

37.4%

+0.4 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

16.7 min

26.0 min

+9.3 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

661.9

+12% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,412.9

+9% in Dallas, TX

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

67.2°F

+19.0°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

37.6 in

+23.9 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.62/gal

+16% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

16.4

+12% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$30.48

+248% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 / TX)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Dallas?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Dallas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Dallas?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).