Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Fresno?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Fresno, CA's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Fresno.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Fresno?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Fresno Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Fresno

California

$1,380/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 $1,380 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 16% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Fresno, CA

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,072

+1% in Fresno, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,042

+14% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,293

+15% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,688

+18% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$348,500

+43% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$66,804

+16% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$46,910

+14% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

32.4 yr

+3.8 yr in Fresno, CA

Homeownership

44.6%

49.7%

+5.1 pp in Fresno, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

24.9%

+40.2 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

22.3 min

+6.9 min in Fresno, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

742.2

+64% in Fresno, CA

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,335.3

+84% in Fresno, CA

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

64.4°F

+19.1°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

11.5 in

+2.5 in in Bozeman, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.52/gal

+29% in Fresno, CA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

34.7

+129% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$20.33

+101% in Fresno, CA

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 / CA)

None

7.25%

+7.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

13.30%

+7.7 pp in CA

Bozeman vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Fresno?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Fresno, CA's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Fresno?: 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 Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Fresno?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).