Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 40% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$877
$762
+13% in Billings, MT
1 Bedroom
$889
$758
+15% in Billings, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$881
+20% in Billings, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,121
+20% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$118,800
+62% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$43,146
+40% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$44,600
+9% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
34.9 yr
+3.2 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
52.5%
+12.3 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
34.5%
+2.5 pp in Billings, MT
Avg Commute
16.7 min
18.6 min
+1.9 min in Huntington, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
800.3
+7% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,123.5
3,617.9
+16% in Huntington, WV

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
55.7°F
+7.5°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
42.6 in
+28.9 in in Huntington, WV

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
15.4
+2% in Huntington, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$24.68
+144% in Huntington, WV

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 Huntington, WV
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 / WV)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
4.82%
+0.8 pp in MT

Billings vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Huntington?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).