Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Manchester?

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

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Manchester?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$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 Manchester, NH. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 3% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$880

+17% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,150

+5% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,593

+4% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,661

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$336,300

+45% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$77,415

+3% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$56,530

+3% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.9 yr

+9.3 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

44.6%

49.3%

+4.7 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

33.5%

+31.6 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

23.8 min

+8.4 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

339.5

+25% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,691.4

+6% in Bozeman, MT

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

49.2°F

+3.9°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

44.6 in

+30.6 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

27.0

+78% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.67

+114% in Manchester, NH

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

$1.92

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / NH)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Manchester?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Manchester?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).