Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Huntsville?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $36,000 in Huntsville.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Huntsville?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Huntsville Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 11% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$815

+23% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$900

+26% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,080

+29% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,251

+39% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$263,100

+57% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$70,778

+11% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$51,740

+6% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

36.4 yr

+7.8 yr in Huntsville, AL

Homeownership

44.6%

58.1%

+13.5 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

46.2%

+18.9 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

19.3 min

+3.9 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

483.2

+7% in Huntsville, AL

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,395.7

+32% in Huntsville, AL

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

62.1°F

+16.8°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

54.3 in

+40.4 in in Huntsville, AL

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

16.4

+8% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$24.06

+138% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL

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 / AL)

None

+4.0 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

5.00%

+0.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Huntsville?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Huntsville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Huntsville?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).