Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Raleigh?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Raleigh?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Billings vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 13% higher in Raleigh, NC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,301

+48% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,323

+49% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,462

+33% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,715

+23% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$377,800

+21% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$82,424

+15% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$51,990

+6% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

34.7 yr

+3.4 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

51.2%

+13.6 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

52.9%

+15.9 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

16.7 min

23.4 min

+6.7 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

491.5

+34% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,838.4

+9% 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

60.6°F

+12.4°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

46.0 in

+32.4 in in Raleigh, NC

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)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

15.1

+3% in Raleigh, NC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$27.56

+214% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

None

4.75%

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.99%

+1.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Raleigh?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Raleigh?: 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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Raleigh?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).