Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Juneau?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Juneau?

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

Billings vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 29% higher in Juneau, AK. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$877

$993

+13% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,257

+41% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,647

+49% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,949

+39% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$432,500

+39% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$100,513

+40% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

39.8 yr

+1.7 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.8%

64.4%

+0.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

40.5%

+3.5 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

16.7 min

15.8 min

+0.9 min in Billings, MT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

515.6

+31% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,113.1

+32% 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

42.1°F

+6.1°F in Billings, MT

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

62.3 in

+48.6 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Juneau, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

28.2

+86% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$17.35

+71% in Juneau, AK

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 / AK)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Juneau?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Juneau?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).