Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Cambridge?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Cambridge?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 37% higher in Cambridge, MA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$2,236

+110% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$2,496

+106% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$2,980

+95% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$3,325

+62% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$1,040,500

+69% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$126,469

+58% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$66,620

+22% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

30.5 yr

+1.9 yr in Cambridge, MA

Homeownership

44.6%

33.7%

+10.9 pp in Bozeman, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

80.2%

+15.1 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

15.4 min

26.1 min

+10.7 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

436.7

+3% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,657.6

+47% in Cambridge, MA

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

51.5°F

+6.2°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

43.8 in

+29.8 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.07/gal

+5% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.6

+96% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$30.66

+203% in Cambridge, MA

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 Cambridge, MA

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 / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.00%

+3.3 pp in MA

Bozeman vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Cambridge?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Cambridge?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).