Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Portland?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Portland?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Billings vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Portland

Maine

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

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 6% higher in Portland, ME. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,038

+18% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,331

+50% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,664

+51% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,919

+37% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$452,600

+45% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$76,174

+6% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$56,960

+16% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.5 yr

+0.6 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

46.7%

+18.1 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

59.2%

+22.2 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

16.7 min

19.9 min

+3.2 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

272.7

+64% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,513.3

+20% 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

46.5°F

+1.7°F in Billings, MT

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

47.3 in

+33.6 in in Portland, ME

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

28.6

+95% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$21.00

+139% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

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 / ME)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

7.15%

+1.5 pp in ME

Billings vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Portland?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Portland?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).