Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Tampa?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Tampa?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 1% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$877

$1,242

+42% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,324

+49% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,673

+52% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,729

+24% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$375,300

+20% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$71,302

+1% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$48,940

+0% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.6 yr

+2.5 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

50.2%

+14.6 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

44.6%

+7.6 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

16.7 min

24.7 min

+8.0 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

443.2

+41% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

1,473.2

+53% 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

73.4°F

+25.2°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

46.3 in

+32.6 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.77/gal

+12% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

15.2

+3% in Tampa, FL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$23.62

+169% in Tampa, FL

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 Tampa, FL

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 / FL)

None

+6.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Billings vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Tampa?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Tampa?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).