Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Billings, MT versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 9% higher in Billings, MT. Both cities are in Montana, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Billings vs Missoula — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Missoula?
- Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Missoula?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $38,000 in Missoula.
- Which has lower taxes, Billings or Missoula?
- Neither — both are in Montana, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).