Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Las Vegas?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% 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 Vegas?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Las Vegas?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 11% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$992

+7% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,181

+3% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,401

+8% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,740

+15% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$395,300

+36% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$70,723

+11% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$46,670

+15% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

38.5 yr

+9.9 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

44.6%

55.7%

+11.1 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

27.3%

+37.8 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

25.8 min

+10.4 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

433.3

+4% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,642.1

+46% in Las Vegas, NV

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

68.4°F

+23.1°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

5.4 in

+8.6 in in Bozeman, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

13.1

+13% in Bozeman, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$13.83

+37% in Las Vegas, NV

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 / NV)

None

6.85%

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Las Vegas?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% 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 Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Las Vegas?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).