Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Philadelphia?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Philadelphia?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 16% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,126

+28% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,189

+34% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,394

+26% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,406

+1% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$232,400

+25% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$60,698

+16% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$54,310

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.1 yr

+3.0 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

52.3%

+12.5 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

34.6%

+2.4 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

32.0 min

+15.3 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

917.1

+22% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

3,123.5

4,615.3

+48% in Philadelphia, PA

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

57.1°F

+8.9°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

48.5 in

+34.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Billings, MT

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SEPTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

21.6

+47% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$19.17

+119% in Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, PA

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 / PA)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.07%

+2.6 pp in MT

Billings vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Philadelphia?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Philadelphia?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).