Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,360 in Bozeman, MT. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $79,903 in Bozeman, MT — about 25% higher in Bozeman, MT. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Bozeman, MT

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,064
+1% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,214
+13% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,528
+13% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$2,057
+32% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$614,900
+180% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$79,903
+34% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$54,830
+7% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
28.6 yr
+7.5 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
44.6%
+2.9 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
65.1%
+29.7 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
29.4 min
15.4 min
+14.0 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
451.2
+72% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,808.3
+57% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
45.3°F
+16.1°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
14.0 in
+28.4 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Bozeman, MT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
15.1
+31% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$10.12
+55% in Baltimore, MD

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 Baltimore, MD
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 (MD / MT)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
5.65%
+0.8 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Bozeman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Bozeman?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (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 Baltimore than in Bozeman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $49,000 in Bozeman.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Bozeman?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).