Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 21% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,496
+71% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,357
+53% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,559
+41% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,857
+33% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$366,300
+17% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$90,685
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$49,430
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
37.4 yr
+0.7 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
64.9%
+0.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
40.4%
+3.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
16.7 min
23.2 min
+6.5 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
96.9
+87% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
1,664.9
+47% 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
59.9°F
+11.7°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
44.3 in
+30.7 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
17.6
+20% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$23.66
+170% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
5.75%
+0.1 pp in VA

Billings vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Virginia Beach?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Virginia Beach?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).