Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Madison?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Madison?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 4% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,018

+4% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,219

+0% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,432

+6% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,766

+14% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$346,900

+44% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$76,983

+4% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$58,080

+6% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

31.8 yr

+3.2 yr in Madison, WI

Homeownership

44.6%

46.6%

+2.0 pp in Madison, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

59.2%

+5.9 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

19.4 min

+4.0 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

259.5

+42% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,884.5

+4% in Madison, WI

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

46.5°F

+1.2°F in Madison, WI

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

34.5 in

+20.5 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Bozeman, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

19.6

+29% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$18.17

+80% in Madison, WI

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 Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Madison, WI

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 / WI)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

7.65%

+2.0 pp in WI

Bozeman vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Madison?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Madison?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).