Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Honolulu?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Honolulu?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Billings vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/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 $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 16% higher in Honolulu, HI. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,390

+58% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,570

+77% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,983

+80% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$2,433

+74% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$834,100

+168% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$85,428

+19% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$57,220

+17% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

42.9 yr

+4.8 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

64.8%

48.6%

+16.2 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

40.8%

+3.8 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.3 min

+5.6 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

214.1

+71% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,919.8

+39% 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

77.7°F

+29.5°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

17.1 in

+3.4 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

52.0

+254% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$70.84

+708% in Honolulu, HI

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 / HI)

None

+4.0 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

11.00%

+5.3 pp in HI

Billings vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Honolulu?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Honolulu?: 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 Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Honolulu?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).