Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Tucson?

Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Tucson?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Billings vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 24% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$877

$795

+9% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$891

+0% in Tucson, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,146

+4% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,520

+9% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$242,200

+22% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$54,546

+24% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$47,760

+3% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

34.6 yr

+3.5 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

51.7%

+13.1 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

30.2%

+6.8 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

22.2 min

+5.5 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

645.8

+14% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,460

+11% in Tucson, AZ

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

70.2°F

+22.0°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

11.6 in

+2.0 in in Billings, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

15.2

+4% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$22.44

+156% in Tucson, AZ

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 / AZ)

None

5.6%

+5.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.50%

+3.2 pp in MT

Billings vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Tucson?: Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Tucson?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).