Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 14% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$1,175
+10% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,113
+8% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$1,325
+13% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,550
+25% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$453,300
+26% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$68,460
+14% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$46,580
+15% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
34.8 yr
+6.2 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
44.6%
41.2%
+3.4 pp in Bozeman, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
55.0%
+10.1 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
19.9 min
+4.5 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
649.8
+44% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
1,808.3
3,479.3
+92% in Greenville, SC

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
60.5°F
+15.2°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
50.8 in
+36.8 in in Greenville, SC

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
15.6
+3% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$29.07
+187% in Greenville, SC

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 Greenville, SC
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 / SC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
6.00%
+0.3 pp in SC

Bozeman vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Greenville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Greenville?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).