Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Eugene?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (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 Eugene?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Eugene?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Eugene, OR 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 $63,836 in Eugene, OR — about 20% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,011

+5% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,080

+11% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,411

+8% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,674

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$435,400

+29% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$63,836

+20% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$49,680

+9% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.4 yr

+6.8 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

44.6%

47.6%

+3.0 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

44.2%

+20.9 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

18.6 min

+3.2 min in Eugene, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

319.6

+29% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,348.9

+85% in Eugene, OR

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

52.5°F

+7.2°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

46.1 in

+32.1 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Eugene, OR

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

16.3

+8% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.60

+113% in Eugene, OR

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 / OR)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.90%

+4.3 pp in OR

Bozeman vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Eugene?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (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 Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Eugene?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).