Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 39% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$877
$630
+28% in Billings, MT
1 Bedroom
$889
$841
+5% in Billings, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$980
+11% in Billings, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,195
+15% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$153,600
+51% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$44,140
+39% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$37,750
+23% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
28.7 yr
+9.4 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
36.5%
+28.3 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
35.0%
+2.0 pp in Billings, MT
Avg Commute
16.7 min
17.0 min
+0.3 min in Hattiesburg, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
221.5
+70% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
3,475.7
+11% in Hattiesburg, MS

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
66.1°F
+17.9°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
59.2 in
+45.5 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
14.9
+2% in Billings, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$29.04
+187% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Billings, MT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Billings, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Billings, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / MS)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
4.00%
+1.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Hattiesburg?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).