Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Lewiston?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Lewiston?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Billings vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 21% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$877

$559

+36% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$749

+16% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,047

+5% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,209

+14% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$214,200

+31% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$56,558

+21% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$49,540

+1% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.8 yr

+0.3 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

50.3%

+14.5 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

21.7%

+15.3 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

20.7 min

+4.0 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

244.5

+67% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,616.5

+48% 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

45.8°F

+2.4°F in Billings, MT

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

51.1 in

+37.4 in in Lewiston, ME

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

29.6

+95% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$31.62

+212% in Lewiston, ME

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 Lewiston, ME

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 / ME)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

7.15%

+1.5 pp in ME

Billings vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Lewiston?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Lewiston?: 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 Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Lewiston?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).