Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/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 $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA — about 15% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Cedar Rapids, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$659
+38% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$716
+41% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$997
+35% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,335
+35% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$177,100
+71% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$67,859
+15% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$49,360
+10% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
36.9 yr
+8.3 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
44.6%
68.2%
+23.6 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
32.9%
+32.2 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
18.2 min
+2.8 min in Cedar Rapids, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
264.5
+41% in Bozeman, MT
Property Crime
1,808.3
2,726
+51% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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
48.2°F
+2.9°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
34.6 in
+20.6 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
15.9
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$22.16
+119% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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
$1.66
+19% in Bozeman, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Bozeman, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bozeman, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / IA)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
3.80%
+1.9 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Cedar Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Cedar Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $29,000 in Cedar Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Cedar Rapids?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Cedar Rapids under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).