| Index | Bozeman | Montana | National |
| Cost of living | 128 | 102 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Housing | 192 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 102 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bozeman? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bozeman stands at 128, making it 28% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Bozeman is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Bozeman falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Bozeman, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 91.9% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 41 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Bozeman and this is how they responded. 2% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 98% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Bozeman affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Bozeman, the median home price is 123.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 18.9% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Bozeman boasting a median household income of $89,450, 10% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Bozeman, the standard sales tax rate starts at 0%, and the income tax rates commence at 1%.
The Bozeman cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $135,961 | $11,330 | $3,172 | $4,079 |
| Renters | $64,908 | $5,409 | $1,514 | $1,947 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Montana | 0% | 0% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Montana | 1% | 6.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Springhill, MT | 203 | 101 | 0.9% |
| Belgrade, MT | 9,499 | 110 | 9.9% |
| Amsterdam, MT | 173 | 113 | 12.6% |
| Manhattan, MT | 2,017 | 115 | 14.7% |
| King Arthur Park, MT | 2,008 | 115 | 15.5% |
| Bozeman, MT | 49,943 | 128 | 28.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Newark, CA | 49,971 | 195 | 95.1% |
| Tuckahoe, VA | 49,974 | 123 | 22.8% |
| McLean, VA | 49,909 | 228 | 128.4% |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 49,889 | 178 | 77.9% |
| Lincoln, CA | 50,006 | 153 | 53.1% |
| Bozeman, MT | 49,943 | 128 | 28.2% |
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