Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Rochester?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Billings vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 35% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$877

$750

+14% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$857

+4% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,114

+1% in Rochester, NY

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,240

+11% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$120,600

+61% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$46,628

+35% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$51,210

+4% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

33.5 yr

+4.6 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

37.2%

+27.6 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

29.9%

+7.1 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

18.9 min

+2.2 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

690

+8% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,533.4

+13% in Rochester, NY

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

about equal

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

34.3 in

+20.6 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$4.04/gal

+6% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

29.9

+104% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$22.74

+159% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY

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 / NY)

None

+4.0 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

10.90%

+5.3 pp in NY

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 11% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).