Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Chicago?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $50,000 in Chicago.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Chicago?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Chicago Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 6% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,186

+11% in Chicago, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,258

+4% in Chicago, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,406

+8% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,554

+24% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$315,200

+49% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$75,134

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$54,720

+0% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.7 yr

+7.1 yr in Chicago, IL

Homeownership

44.6%

45.5%

+0.9 pp in Chicago, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

43.3%

+21.8 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

33.5 min

+18.1 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

539.8

+20% in Chicago, IL

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,489.9

+93% in Chicago, IL

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

52.7°F

+7.4°F in Chicago, IL

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

38.0 in

+24.0 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.24/gal

+1% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

19.9

+31% in Chicago, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$19.71

+95% in Chicago, IL

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 Chicago, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Chicago, IL

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 / IL)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.95%

+0.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Chicago?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Chicago?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Chicago?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).