Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Manchester?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Manchester?

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

Billings vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 7% higher in Manchester, NH. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$877

$880

+0% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,150

+29% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,593

+45% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,661

+19% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$336,300

+8% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$77,415

+8% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$56,530

+15% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.9 yr

+0.2 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

49.3%

+15.5 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

33.5%

+3.5 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

23.8 min

+7.1 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

339.5

+55% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,691.4

+46% 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

49.2°F

+1.0°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

44.6 in

+30.9 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

27.3

+86% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$24.53

+180% in Manchester, NH

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 Manchester, NH

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 / NH)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Manchester?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Manchester?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire'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).