Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Nashua?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Nashua?

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

Billings vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 22% higher in Nashua, 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

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,127

+29% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,383

+56% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,699

+54% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,951

+40% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$373,100

+20% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$92,457

+29% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$56,530

+15% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

39.7 yr

+1.6 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

64.8%

56.4%

+8.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

40.5%

+3.5 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

16.7 min

25.3 min

+8.6 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

164.9

+78% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,269

+59% 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 Nashua, NH

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

44.6 in

+30.9 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Billings, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

27.0

+78% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.67

+114% in Nashua, 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 Nashua, 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 Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Nashua?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Nashua?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Nashua 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).