Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Newark?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Billings vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 33% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,111

+27% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$889

$978

+10% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,386

+26% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,695

+21% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$337,800

+8% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$48,416

+33% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$61,430

+25% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

34.8 yr

+3.3 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

24.1%

+40.7 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

17.4%

+19.6 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

33.2 min

+16.5 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

582.5

+22% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,961.8

+37% 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, NJ

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

46.3 in

+32.6 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Billings, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

23.3

+59% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$15.93

+82% in Newark, NJ

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 Newark, NJ

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 / NJ)

None

6.625%

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

10.75%

+5.1 pp in NJ

Billings vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Newark?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).