Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 23% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,103
+26% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,024
+15% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,213
+10% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$1,394
+0% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$224,500
+28% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$55,269
+23% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$54,310
+11% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
37.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
46.0%
+18.8 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
33.1%
+3.9 pp in Billings, MT
Avg Commute
16.7 min
23.0 min
+6.3 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
1,138.2
+52% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,123.5
3,182.4
+2% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+6.7°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
43.1 in
+29.4 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
19.4
+32% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$22.51
+157% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.60%
+0.9 pp in DE

Billings vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Wilmington?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Wilmington?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).