Is it cheaper to live in Billings or St. Louis?

They're close. Billings, MT runs about $1,030 a month and St. Louis, MO about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or St. Louis?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Billings vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 23% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$877

$864

+1% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$866

+3% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,109

+1% in St. Louis, MO

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,135

+19% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$185,100

+41% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$55,279

+23% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$49,990

+2% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

36.6 yr

+1.5 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

45.4%

+19.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

40.2%

+3.2 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.2 min

+5.5 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

1,372.9

+83% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

3,123.5

5,794.9

+86% in St. Louis, MO

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

55.7°F

+7.5°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

40.9 in

+27.3 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

13.7

+7% in Billings, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$24.13

+175% in St. Louis, MO

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 St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, MO

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 / MO)

None

4.225%

+4.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.70%

+1.0 pp in MT

Billings vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or St. Louis?: They're close. Billings, MT runs about $1,030 a month and St. Louis, MO about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or St. Louis?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).