Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Burlington?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $51,000 in Burlington.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Burlington?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Burlington Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,360 in Bozeman, MT versus $1,540 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 14% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,284

+21% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,275

+5% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,731

+13% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$2,002

+3% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$400,200

+35% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$68,854

+14% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$60,020

+9% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

26.7 yr

+1.9 yr in Bozeman, MT

Homeownership

44.6%

39.8%

+4.8 pp in Bozeman, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

60.5%

+4.6 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

19.2 min

+3.8 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

497.1

+10% in Burlington, VT

Property Crime

1,808.3

4,408.9

+144% in Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

45.3°F

46.0°F

+0.7°F in Burlington, VT

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

36.8 in

+22.8 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Bozeman, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

24.4

+61% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$26.07

+158% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Bozeman, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Burlington, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / VT)

None

+6.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

8.75%

+3.1 pp in VT

Bozeman vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Burlington?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Burlington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Burlington?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).