Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Salem?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Salem?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Billings vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $71,900 in Salem, OR. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,075

+23% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$889

$989

+11% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,337

+21% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,778

+27% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$382,400

+23% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$71,900

+0% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$55,310

+13% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.7 yr

+2.4 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

55.7%

+9.1 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

31.4%

+5.6 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.4 min

+5.7 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

540.6

+28% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

2,878.6

+8% 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

53.0°F

+4.8°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

39.7 in

+26.0 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

16.3

+11% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$20.59

+135% in Salem, OR

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 / OR)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.90%

+4.3 pp in OR

Billings vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Salem?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Salem?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).