Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Nashua?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Nashua?

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

Bozeman vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 14% higher in Nashua, NH. 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

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,127

+6% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,383

+14% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,699

+11% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,951

+5% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$373,100

+39% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$92,457

+16% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$56,530

+3% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

39.7 yr

+11.1 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

44.6%

56.4%

+11.8 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

40.5%

+24.6 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

25.3 min

+9.9 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

164.9

+63% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,269

+30% 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 Nashua, NH

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

44.6 in

+30.6 in in Nashua, 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 Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.67

+114% in Nashua, 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 Nashua, 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 Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Nashua?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Nashua?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Nashua 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).