Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Columbus?

Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Columbus?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 29% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$826

+22% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$875

+28% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$991

+35% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,221

+41% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$182,300

+70% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$56,622

+29% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$43,540

+21% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.1 yr

+6.5 yr in Columbus, GA

Homeownership

44.6%

50.2%

+5.6 pp in Columbus, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

29.7%

+35.4 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

20.2 min

+4.8 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

612.3

+36% in Columbus, GA

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,273.4

+26% in Columbus, GA

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

65.7°F

+20.4°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

46.8 in

+32.8 in in Columbus, GA

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

16.4

+8% in Columbus, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$38.60

+281% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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 / GA)

None

+4.0 pp in GA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

5.19%

+0.5 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Columbus?: Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Columbus?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).