Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Las Cruces

New Mexico

$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 Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM 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 $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 31% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$597
+44% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$793
+35% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$888
+42% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,177
+43% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$217,400
+65% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$55,176
+31% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$42,070
+23% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
32.7 yr
+4.1 yr in Las Cruces, NM
Homeownership
44.6%
55.6%
+11.0 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
37.3%
+27.8 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
18.7 min
+3.3 min in Las Cruces, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
726
+61% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
1,808.3
4,899.2
+171% in Las Cruces, NM

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
58.8°F
+13.5°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
—

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
15.1
+1% in Bozeman, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$9.31
+8% in Bozeman, MT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / NM)
None
4.875%
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
5.90%
+0.3 pp in NM

Bozeman vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM 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 Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Las Cruces?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).