Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Honolulu?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Honolulu?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 6% higher in Honolulu, HI. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,390

+31% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,570

+29% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,983

+30% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$2,433

+18% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$834,100

+36% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$85,428

+7% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$57,220

+4% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

42.9 yr

+14.3 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

44.6%

48.6%

+4.0 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

40.8%

+24.3 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

22.3 min

+6.9 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

214.1

+53% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,919.8

+6% in Honolulu, HI

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

77.7°F

+32.4°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

17.1 in

+3.1 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

52.7

+248% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$66.84

+560% in Honolulu, HI

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 / HI)

None

+4.0 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

11.00%

+5.3 pp in HI

Bozeman vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Honolulu?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Honolulu?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).