Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 52% higher in Naperville, IL. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,713
+95% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,594
+79% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,889
+71% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$2,446
+75% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$509,900
+64% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$150,937
+110% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$54,720
+12% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
40.1 yr
+2.0 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
64.8%
74.3%
+9.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
71.7%
+34.7 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
16.7 min
31.4 min
+14.7 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
85.7
+89% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
892.2
+71% 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
49.9°F
+1.7°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
36.9 in
+23.2 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
23.9
+63% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$15.39
+75% in Naperville, IL

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
$1.66
+19% in Billings, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / IL)
None
6.25%
+6.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
4.95%
+0.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Naperville?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Naperville?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).