Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Meridian?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Meridian?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/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 $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 19% higher in Meridian, ID. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,523

+43% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,540

+27% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,489

+3% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,893

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$485,000

+21% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$98,686

+24% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$49,100

+10% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.4 yr

+8.8 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

44.6%

76.1%

+31.5 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

44.4%

+20.7 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

22.3 min

+6.9 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

150.3

+67% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

583.5

+68% 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

52.5°F

+7.2°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

11.7 in

+2.3 in in Bozeman, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

14.4

+5% in Bozeman, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$11.33

+12% in Meridian, ID

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 / ID)

None

+6.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

5.30%

+0.4 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Meridian?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Meridian?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).