Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Denver?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Denver?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 13% higher in Denver, CO. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,497

+41% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,583

+30% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,958

+28% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$2,269

+10% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$586,700

+5% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$91,681

+15% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$62,320

+14% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.2 yr

+6.6 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

44.6%

49.1%

+4.5 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

55.6%

+9.5 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

25.4 min

+10.0 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

999.3

+121% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

1,808.3

4,781.1

+164% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+4.9°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

15.6 in

+1.6 in in Denver, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.16/gal

+2% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

17.1

+13% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$15.05

+49% in Denver, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / CO)

None

2.9%

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.40%

+1.3 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Denver?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Denver?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).