Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 24% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$981
+8% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$904
+26% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$1,064
+30% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,292
+37% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$221,200
+64% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$60,583
+24% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$45,790
+16% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
36.4 yr
+7.8 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
44.6%
54.2%
+9.6 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
44.0%
+21.1 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
18.3 min
+2.9 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
1,673
+271% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
1,808.3
5,251.5
+190% in Little Rock, AR

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
62.7°F
+17.4°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
49.8 in
+35.8 in in Little Rock, AR

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
14.1
+7% in Bozeman, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$27.86
+175% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR
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 / AR)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
3.90%
+1.8 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Little Rock?
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 Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Little Rock?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).