Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Fort Wayne?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Fort Wayne?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Fort Wayne Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/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 $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 25% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$798

+25% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$782

+36% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$984

+36% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,100

+47% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$169,700

+72% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$60,293

+25% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$47,700

+13% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.0 yr

+6.4 yr in Fort Wayne, IN

Homeownership

44.6%

62.2%

+17.6 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

28.5%

+36.6 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

21.4 min

+6.0 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

308.9

+32% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,245.4

+24% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

50.5°F

+5.2°F in Fort Wayne, IN

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

38.3 in

+24.4 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

17.5

+16% in Fort Wayne, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$24.52

+142% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Bozeman, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Fort Wayne, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Bozeman, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / IN)

None

+7.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

2.95%

+2.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Fort Wayne?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Fort Wayne?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Fort Wayne?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).