Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Fort Wayne?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Fort Wayne.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Fort Wayne?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Billings vs Fort Wayne Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/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 $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 16% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio

$877

$798

+9% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$782

+12% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$984

+11% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,100

+21% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$169,700

+46% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$60,293

+16% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$47,700

+3% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.0 yr

+3.1 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

62.2%

+2.6 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

28.5%

+8.5 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

21.4 min

+4.7 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

308.9

+59% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,245.4

+28% 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

50.5°F

+2.3°F in Fort Wayne, IN

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

38.3 in

+24.7 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Billings, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

18.1

+24% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$13.70

+56% in Fort Wayne, IN

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 Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Fort Wayne, IN

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 / IN)

None

+7.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.95%

+2.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Fort Wayne?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Fort Wayne?: 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 Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Fort Wayne?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).