Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Las Vegas?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Las Vegas?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Billings vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 2% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$877

$992

+13% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,181

+33% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,401

+27% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,740

+24% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$395,300

+27% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$70,723

+2% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$46,670

+5% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

38.5 yr

+0.4 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

64.8%

55.7%

+9.1 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

27.3%

+9.7 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

25.8 min

+9.1 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

433.3

+42% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,642.1

+15% 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

68.4°F

+20.2°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

5.4 in

+8.3 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

13.6

+7% in Billings, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$12.09

+38% in Las Vegas, NV

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 / NV)

None

6.85%

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Las Vegas?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Las Vegas?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).