Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Billings or Tulsa?

Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Billings vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 19% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Billings, MT

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$877

$786

+10% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$889

$847

+5% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,102

$1,045

+5% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,398

$1,265

+10% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,800

$189,600

+39% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$71,855

$58,407

+19% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,060

$46,670

+5% in Billings, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

35.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

64.8%

52.0%

+12.8 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.0%

33.3%

+3.7 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

16.7 min

18.7 min

+2.0 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

750.2

948.9

+26% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

3,123.5

3,664.6

+17% in Tulsa, OK

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

60.1°F

+11.9°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

13.7 in

43.7 in

+30.1 in in Tulsa, OK

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

13.4

+9% in Billings, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$8.77

$27.15

+210% in Tulsa, OK

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 Tulsa, OK

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 / OK)

None

4.5%

+4.5 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.50%

+1.2 pp in MT

Billings vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Billings, MT's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Tulsa?: 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 Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Tulsa?: Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).