Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Jersey City?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $74,000 in Jersey City.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Jersey City?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Billings vs Jersey City Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ — about 24% higher in Jersey City, NJ. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Jersey City, NJ

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,949

+122% in Jersey City, NJ

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,853

+108% in Jersey City, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,857

+69% in Jersey City, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$2,004

+43% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$534,500

+71% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$94,813

+32% in Jersey City, NJ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$61,430

+25% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

34.7 yr

+3.4 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

28.8%

+36.0 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

53.1%

+16.1 pp in Jersey City, NJ

Avg Commute

16.7 min

36.9 min

+20.2 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

562.9

+25% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,036.4

+35% 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

55.0°F

+6.8°F in Jersey City, NJ

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

49.9 in

+36.3 in in Jersey City, NJ

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

24.9

+65% in Jersey City, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$17.68

+75% in Jersey City, NJ

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 Jersey City, NJ

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 / NJ)

None

6.625%

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

10.75%

+5.1 pp in NJ

Billings vs Jersey City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Jersey City?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Jersey City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $74,000 in Jersey City.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Jersey City?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).