Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Long Beach

California

$1,960/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 $1,960 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 14% higher in Long Beach, CA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Long Beach, CA

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,447
+65% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,634
+84% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,979
+80% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$2,360
+69% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$762,200
+144% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$83,969
+17% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$55,850
+14% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
36.8 yr
+1.3 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
40.9%
+23.9 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
34.8%
+2.2 pp in Billings, MT
Avg Commute
16.7 min
30.0 min
+13.3 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
690
+8% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
3,584.4
+15% in Long Beach, CA

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
64.7°F
+16.5°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
12.3 in
+1.4 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$5.40/gal
+26% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Long Beach Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
33.3
+127% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$20.72
+136% in Long Beach, CA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
13.30%
+7.7 pp in CA

Billings vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Long Beach?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Long Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Long Beach?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Long Beach under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).