Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Missoula?

Neither — both are in Montana, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Bozeman vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 18% higher in Bozeman, MT. Both cities are in Montana, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$755

+29% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$953

+21% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,176

+23% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,676

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$427,400

+30% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$65,329

+18% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$47,830

+13% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

34.3 yr

+5.7 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

44.6%

47.8%

+3.2 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

51.7%

+13.4 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

16.6 min

+1.2 min in Missoula, MT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

601.9

+33% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,685.2

+104% in Missoula, 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

45.9°F

+0.6°F in Missoula, MT

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

14.1 in

+0.1 in in Missoula, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

about equal

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 / MT)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

about equal

Bozeman vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Missoula?: Neither — both are in Montana, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).