Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Fresno?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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 Fresno.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Fresno?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Billings vs Fresno Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 7% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Fresno, CA

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,072

+22% in Fresno, CA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,042

+17% in Fresno, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,293

+17% in Fresno, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,688

+21% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$348,500

+12% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$66,804

+7% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$46,910

+4% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

32.4 yr

+5.7 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

49.7%

+15.1 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

24.9%

+12.1 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.3 min

+5.6 min in Fresno, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

742.2

+1% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,335.3

+7% in Fresno, CA

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

64.4°F

+16.2°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

11.5 in

+2.2 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.40/gal

+26% in Fresno, CA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

33.3

+127% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$20.72

+136% in Fresno, CA

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 / CA)

None

7.25%

+7.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

13.30%

+7.7 pp in CA

Billings vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Fresno?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Fresno?: 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 Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Fresno?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).