Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 23% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$877
$953
+9% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,019
+15% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,287
+17% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,392
+0% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$296,400
+5% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$55,339
+23% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$47,290
+4% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
38.4 yr
+0.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
64.8%
50.5%
+14.3 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
42.0%
+5.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
16.7 min
22.7 min
+6.0 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
1,361.1
+81% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,123.5
5,089.6
+63% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+22.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
62.3 in
+48.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
14.2
+4% in Billings, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$16.62
+90% in New Orleans, LA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Billings, MT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Billings, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Billings, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / LA)
None
5%
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
3.00%
+2.7 pp in MT

Billings vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or New Orleans?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or New Orleans?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).