Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 21% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$933
+12% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$963
+21% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$1,132
+26% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,304
+37% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$207,000
+66% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$62,995
+21% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$49,340
+10% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
34.1 yr
+5.5 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
44.6%
55.3%
+10.7 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
34.2%
+30.9 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
24.3 min
+8.9 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
936.6
+108% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
1,808.3
3,351.7
+85% in Indianapolis, IN

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
53.2°F
+7.9°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
42.4 in
+28.4 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.85/gal
+10% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
17.5
+16% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$24.52
+142% in Indianapolis, IN

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Bozeman, MT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Bozeman, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Bozeman, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bozeman, MT

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / IN)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
2.95%
+2.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Indianapolis?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% 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).