Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 18% higher in Rochester, MN. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,080
+23% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,106
+24% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,243
+13% in Rochester, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,646
+18% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$287,500
+8% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$87,767
+22% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$60,620
+24% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
36.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
65.4%
+0.6 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
50.1%
+13.1 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
16.7 min
17.2 min
+0.5 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
158.9
+79% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
1,379
+56% 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
45.4°F
+2.8°F in Billings, MT
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
33.0 in
+19.4 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.95/gal
+8% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
16.9
+16% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$14.95
+70% in Rochester, MN

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
$1.66
+19% in Billings, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Rochester, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / MN)
None
6.875%
+6.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
9.85%
+4.2 pp in MN

Billings vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Rochester?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Rochester?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).