Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Reno?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Reno?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Billings vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 8% higher in Reno, NV. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$877

$964

+10% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,206

+36% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,518

+38% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,885

+35% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$498,600

+60% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$78,448

+9% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$49,660

+1% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.3 yr

+0.8 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

49.4%

+15.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

35.7%

+1.3 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

20.6 min

+3.9 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

528.9

+29% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,489.3

+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

53.8°F

+5.6°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

7.4 in

+6.3 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Reno, NV

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

13.6

+7% in Billings, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$12.09

+38% in Reno, NV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / NV)

None

6.85%

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Reno?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Reno?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).