Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 1% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,649
+88% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,391
+56% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,513
+37% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,916
+37% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$357,600
+15% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$71,373
+1% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$54,310
+11% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
22.0 yr
+16.1 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
50.3%
+14.5 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
57.5%
+20.5 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
16.7 min
19.6 min
+2.9 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
326.3
+57% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
2,024.6
+35% 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
54.9°F
+6.7°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
43.1 in
+29.4 in in Newark, DE

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
19.3
+27% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$29.73
+194% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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 / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.60%
+0.9 pp in DE

Billings vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Newark?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Newark?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).