Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Hartford?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Hartford.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Hartford?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Billings vs Hartford Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 37% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio

$877

$973

+11% in Hartford, CT

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,042

+17% in Hartford, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,296

+18% in Hartford, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,433

+3% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$217,200

+30% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$45,300

+37% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$59,940

+22% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

33.4 yr

+4.7 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

25.7%

+39.1 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

18.3%

+18.7 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.8 min

+6.1 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

527.5

+30% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,949.2

+6% 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

51.2°F

+3.0°F in Hartford, CT

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

43.6 in

+29.9 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

24.3

+61% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$23.33

+131% in Hartford, CT

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

$1.92

+6% in Billings, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / CT)

None

6.35%

+6.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

6.99%

+1.3 pp in CT

Billings vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Hartford?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Hartford?: 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 Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Hartford?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).