Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 45% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$630
+41% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$841
+31% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$980
+36% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,195
+42% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$153,600
+75% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$44,140
+45% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$37,750
+31% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
28.7 yr
+0.1 yr in Hattiesburg, MS
Homeownership
44.6%
36.5%
+8.1 pp in Bozeman, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
35.0%
+30.1 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
17.0 min
+1.6 min in Hattiesburg, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
221.5
+51% in Bozeman, MT
Property Crime
1,808.3
3,475.7
+92% in Hattiesburg, MS

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
66.1°F
+20.8°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
59.2 in
+45.2 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
14.9
+2% in Bozeman, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$29.04
+187% in Hattiesburg, MS

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 Hattiesburg, MS
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 / MS)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
4.00%
+1.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Hattiesburg?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).