Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Huntington?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Huntington?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Huntington Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 46% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$762

+28% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$758

+38% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$881

+42% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,121

+46% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$118,800

+81% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$43,146

+46% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$44,600

+19% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

34.9 yr

+6.3 yr in Huntington, WV

Homeownership

44.6%

52.5%

+7.9 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

34.5%

+30.6 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

18.6 min

+3.2 min in Huntington, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

800.3

+77% in Huntington, WV

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,617.9

+100% in Huntington, WV

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

55.7°F

+10.4°F in Huntington, WV

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

42.6 in

+28.6 in in Huntington, WV

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

15.4

+2% in Huntington, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$24.68

+144% in Huntington, WV

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 Huntington, WV

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 / WV)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

4.82%

+0.8 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Huntington?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Huntington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Huntington?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).