Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Cleveland?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Cleveland.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Cleveland?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Cleveland Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 51% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$678

+36% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$732

+40% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$903

+41% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,081

+47% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$94,100

+85% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$39,187

+51% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$50,140

+9% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

36.3 yr

+7.7 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

44.6%

41.2%

+3.4 pp in Bozeman, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

21.3%

+43.8 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

22.9 min

+7.5 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

1,582

+251% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

1,808.3

4,531.3

+151% in Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

36.4 in

+22.4 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.80/gal

+11% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

19.2

+27% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$22.83

+126% in Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Cleveland, OH

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 / OH)

None

5.75%

+5.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.75%

+2.9 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Cleveland?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Cleveland?: 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 Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Cleveland?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).