Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 11% higher in Charleston, SC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$1,579
+48% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,430
+18% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$1,684
+10% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$2,076
+1% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$469,100
+24% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$90,038
+13% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$49,150
+10% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
36.1 yr
+7.5 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
44.6%
55.6%
+11.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
57.7%
+7.4 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
23.8 min
+8.4 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
358.8
+20% in Bozeman, MT
Property Crime
1,808.3
2,035.1
+13% in Charleston, SC

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
66.7°F
+21.4°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
44.4 in
+30.4 in in Charleston, SC

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
15.6
+3% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$29.07
+187% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Bozeman, MT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Bozeman, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Bozeman, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Bozeman, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bozeman, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / SC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.00%
+0.3 pp in SC

Bozeman vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Charleston?
Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Charleston?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).