Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,360 in Bozeman, MT. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $79,903 in Bozeman, MT — about 18% higher in Bozeman, MT. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Bozeman, MT

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,064
+34% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,214
+37% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,528
+34% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$2,057
+41% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$614,900
+131% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$79,903
+22% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$54,830
+14% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
28.6 yr
+10.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
44.6%
+16.9 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
65.1%
+26.4 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
22.2 min
15.4 min
+6.8 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
451.2
+62% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
1,808.3
+62% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
45.3°F
+11.9°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
14.0 in
+4.5 in in Bozeman, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
15.1
+1% in Bozeman, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$10.12
+9% in Bozeman, MT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / MT)
4.875%
None
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
5.65%
+0.3 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Bozeman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Bozeman?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Bozeman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $49,000 in Bozeman.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Bozeman?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Bozeman under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).