Last checked October 29, 2026.
Billings is the cheapest of Montana’s larger towns to rent in: a single adult with their own 1-bedroom needs about $46,700 a year, below the $49,060 median wage. It’s also Montana’s largest city, with the state’s busiest medical and shopping hub.
At a glance
| Population | 121,239 (July 2025 Census estimate) |
| Region | Southeast Montana, Yellowstone County |
| Average 1-bedroom / 2-bedroom rent | $1,130 / $1,378 |
| Median home sale price | $389,900 (Redfin, Aug 2026) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $46,744 full budget; $45,200 by the 30% rule |
| Median wage, all jobs | $49,060 (Billings metro, May 2025) |
| Electric and gas | NorthWestern Energy electric; Montana-Dakota Utilities gas |
| Resort tax | None; Red Lodge (4%) is the nearest resort tax town |
| Buses | MET Transit, $2 a ride or $28 for 31 days |
| Airport / hospitals | Billings Logan International (BIL) / Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Regional Hospital |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper | $995 | $1,300 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| Apartments.com | $1,264 | $1,455 | Oct 2026 |
| Average | $1,130 | $1,378 |
The two sources are about $270 apart on 1-bedrooms, so expect to find listings across that range. Zumper shows 2-bedroom rents up 8% from a year earlier.
Buying a home
Redfin’s median sale price was $389,900 in August 2026, up 0.6% from a year earlier (Redfin). Property tax on that home is about $2,197 a year as a primary residence and about $5,461 as a second home, using the 2026 tax-year levy of 737.18 mills for School District 2, City of Billings (Yellowstone County; our calculation; see property tax).
Common questions
How much do you need to make to live in Billings?
About $46,700 a year before taxes ($22.47 an hour) for a single adult renting their own 1-bedroom, with a paid-off car and 10% saved, at 2026 asking rents and tax rates (our calculation). Sharing a 2-bedroom brings it to about $38,700. The median job in the Billings metro paid $49,060 in May 2025 (BLS).
What is the average rent in Billings?
About $1,130 a month for a 1-bedroom and $1,378 for a 2-bedroom, the average of Zumper and Apartments.com asking rents in October 2026. The two sources are about $270 apart on 1-bedrooms.
How much are property taxes in Billings?
On the $389,900 median home, about $2,197 a year if you live in it and $5,461 as a second home, at Montana’s 2026 rates and the 737.18-mill levy for School District 2, City of Billings.
Does Billings have a sales tax?
No. Montana has no general sales tax, and Billings has no resort tax. The nearest resort tax town is Red Lodge (4%).
Who provides electricity and gas in Billings?
NorthWestern Energy supplies electricity and Montana-Dakota Utilities supplies natural gas. Typical bills (750 kWh of electricity and 100 therms of gas) came to about $213 a month in May 2026, per the Montana Public Service Commission.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent | $1,130 |
| Electric and gas (typical bills) | $213 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $2,802 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $46,744 ($22.47 an hour) |
Sharing a 2-bedroom needs about $38,700. Billings gas was $4.31 a gallon on October 29, 2026, slightly below the state average (AAA). Try your own numbers in the salary calculator.