Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Denver?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Denver?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Billings vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 22% higher in Denver, CO. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,497

+71% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,583

+78% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,958

+78% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$2,269

+62% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$586,700

+88% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$91,681

+28% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$62,320

+27% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.2 yr

+2.9 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

49.1%

+15.7 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

55.6%

+18.6 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

16.7 min

25.4 min

+8.7 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

999.3

+33% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

3,123.5

4,781.1

+53% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+2.0°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

15.6 in

+1.9 in in Denver, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$4.27/gal

+0% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

16.2

+10% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$11.92

+36% in Denver, CO

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / CO)

None

2.9%

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.40%

+1.3 pp in MT

Billings vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Denver?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Denver?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).