Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Bozeman?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of natural gas costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Bozeman?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $49,000 in Bozeman.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Bozeman?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Bozeman under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Arlington vs Bozeman Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,360 in Bozeman, MT. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $79,903 in Bozeman, MT — about 8% higher in Bozeman, MT. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Bozeman, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,064

+2% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,214

+3% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,528

+8% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$2,057

+13% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$614,900

+122% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$79,903

+9% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$54,830

+7% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

28.6 yr

+5.0 yr in Arlington, TX

Homeownership

54.8%

44.6%

+10.2 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

65.1%

+32.0 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

26.7 min

15.4 min

+11.3 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

451.2

+9% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

1,808.3

+26% in Arlington, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

45.3°F

+20.1°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

14.0 in

+25.6 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$4.27/gal

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.1

+5% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$10.12

+68% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Bozeman, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Bozeman, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Bozeman, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MT)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.65%

+5.7 pp in MT

Arlington vs Bozeman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Bozeman?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Bozeman?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $49,000 in Bozeman.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Bozeman?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).