Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 32% higher in Washington, DC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,763
+101% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,885
+112% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,949
+77% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$2,249
+61% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$724,600
+132% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$106,287
+48% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$71,060
+45% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
34.9 yr
+3.2 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
41.1%
+23.7 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
63.6%
+26.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
16.7 min
30.3 min
+13.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
936.3
+25% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,123.5
3,627.9
+16% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+10.0°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
39.7 in
+26.1 in in Washington, DC

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 WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
25.4
+73% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$22.01
+151% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
10.75%
+5.1 pp in DC

Billings vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Washington?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Washington?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).