Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Bozeman?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $49,000 in Bozeman.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Bozeman?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Bozeman under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Bozeman Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Aurora, CO versus $1,360 in Bozeman, MT. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $79,903 in Bozeman, MT — about 6% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Bozeman, MT

Rent

Studio

—

$1,064

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,214

+7% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,528

+33% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$2,057

+11% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$614,900

+11% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$79,903

+6% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$54,830

+12% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

28.6 yr

+6.7 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

44.6%

+1.4 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

65.1%

+23.7 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

18.7 min

15.4 min

+3.3 min in Aurora, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

451.2

+53% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

1,808.3

+46% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

45.3°F

+4.9°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

14.0 in

+1.6 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$4.27/gal

+3% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Colorado vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

15.1

+12% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$10.12

+33% in Aurora, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MT)

2.9%

None

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

5.65%

+1.3 pp in MT

Aurora vs Bozeman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Bozeman?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Bozeman?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $49,000 in Bozeman.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Bozeman?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).