Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Dover?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $42,000 in Dover.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Dover?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Dover Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 27% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Dover, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$993

+7% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,047

+14% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,185

+22% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,634

+21% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$248,500

+60% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$58,336

+27% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$46,690

+15% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.1 yr

+6.5 yr in Dover, DE

Homeownership

44.6%

47.0%

+2.4 pp in Dover, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

27.1%

+38.0 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

24.0 min

+8.6 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

1,025.3

+127% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

1,808.3

6,159.1

+241% in Dover, DE

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

56.9°F

+11.6°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

46.0 in

+32.1 in in Dover, DE

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

19.3

+27% in Dover, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$29.73

+194% in Dover, DE

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 Dover, DE

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 / DE)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

6.60%

+0.9 pp in DE

Bozeman vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Dover?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Dover?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Dover?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).