Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Davenport?

Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $31,000 in Davenport.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Davenport?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Davenport under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Davenport Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Billings, MT versus $960 in Davenport, IA. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $64,497 in Davenport, IA — about 10% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Davenport, IA

Rent

Studio

$877

$726

+17% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$777

+13% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$962

+13% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,117

+20% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$162,900

+48% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$64,497

+10% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$48,550

+1% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.8 yr

+0.3 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

63.0%

+1.8 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

30.0%

+7.0 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

18.7 min

+2.0 min in Davenport, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

581.4

+23% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,559.6

+14% in Davenport, IA

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

49.3°F

+1.1°F in Davenport, IA

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

36.0 in

+22.4 in in Davenport, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.9

+5% in Davenport, IA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$22.16

+119% in Davenport, IA

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 Davenport, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Davenport, IA

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 / IA)

None

+6.0 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.80%

+1.9 pp in MT

Billings vs Davenport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Davenport?: Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Davenport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $31,000 in Davenport.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Davenport?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Davenport under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).