Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 1% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$877
$815
+7% in Billings, MT
1 Bedroom
$889
$900
+1% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,080
+2% in Billings, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,251
+11% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$263,100
+16% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$70,778
+1% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$51,740
+5% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
36.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
58.1%
+6.7 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
46.2%
+9.2 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
16.7 min
19.3 min
+2.6 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
483.2
+36% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
2,395.7
+23% 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
62.1°F
+13.9°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
54.3 in
+40.7 in in Huntsville, AL

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
16.4
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$24.06
+138% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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 / AL)
None
4%
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
5.00%
+0.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Huntsville?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Huntsville?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).