Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Frederick?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $57,000 in Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Frederick?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 16% higher in Frederick, MD. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,658

+56% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,418

+17% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,661

+9% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,863

+9% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$365,200

+41% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$95,150

+19% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$71,060

+30% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.1 yr

+8.5 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

44.6%

59.2%

+14.6 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

41.8%

+23.3 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

30.1 min

+14.7 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

406

+10% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,696.3

+6% in Bozeman, MT

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

52.1°F

+6.8°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

—

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

21.8

+44% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$22.57

+123% in Frederick, MD

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 Frederick, MD

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 / MD)

None

+6.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

6.50%

+0.8 pp in MD

Bozeman vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Frederick?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Frederick?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).