Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Shreveport?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Billings vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 33% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$877

$756

+14% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$843

+5% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$978

+11% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,136

+19% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$178,100

+43% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$48,465

+33% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$44,820

+9% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

37.5 yr

+0.6 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

53.8%

+11.0 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

27.5%

+9.5 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

19.0 min

+2.3 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

1,235.4

+65% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

3,123.5

4,048.2

+30% in Shreveport, LA

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

65.5°F

+17.3°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

51.0 in

+37.3 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

14.2

+4% in Billings, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$16.62

+90% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Billings, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Billings, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Billings, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / LA)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.00%

+2.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Shreveport?: 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 Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Shreveport?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).