Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Meridian?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Meridian?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/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 $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 27% higher in Meridian, ID. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,523

+74% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,540

+73% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,489

+35% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,893

+35% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$485,000

+56% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$98,686

+37% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$49,100

+0% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.4 yr

+0.7 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

76.1%

+11.3 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

44.4%

+7.4 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.3 min

+5.6 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

150.3

+80% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

583.5

+81% 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

52.5°F

+4.3°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

11.7 in

+1.9 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

14.4

+5% in Billings, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$11.33

+12% in Meridian, ID

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 / ID)

None

+6.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

5.30%

+0.4 pp in MT

Billings vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Meridian?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Meridian?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).