Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Mesa?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Mesa?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 9% higher in Mesa, AZ. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,209

+38% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,288

+45% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,458

+32% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,819

+30% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$364,300

+17% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$78,779

+10% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$51,380

+5% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.2 yr

+0.9 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

64.4%

+0.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

31.5%

+5.5 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

25.0 min

+8.3 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

486.2

+35% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,488

+52% 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

75.1°F

+26.9°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

8.0 in

+5.6 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

15.2

+4% in Mesa, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$22.44

+156% in Mesa, AZ

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 / AZ)

None

5.6%

+5.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.50%

+3.2 pp in MT

Billings vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Mesa?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Mesa?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).