Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Columbia?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $41,000 in Columbia.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Columbia?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Columbia under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Columbia Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 30% higher in Bozeman, MT. 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

Columbia, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$802

+25% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,026

+15% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,164

+24% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,338

+35% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$243,500

+60% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$55,653

+30% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$46,430

+15% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

28.7 yr

+0.1 yr in Columbia, SC

Homeownership

44.6%

47.3%

+2.7 pp in Columbia, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

46.1%

+19.0 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

17.4 min

+2.0 min in Columbia, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

769.9

+71% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,265.1

+81% in Columbia, 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

64.9°F

+19.6°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

45.4 in

+31.4 in in Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$29.07

+187% in Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

6.00%

+0.3 pp in SC

Bozeman vs Columbia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Columbia?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Columbia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $41,000 in Columbia.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Columbia?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Columbia 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).