Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Portland?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Portland?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 5% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,038

+2% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,331

+10% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,664

+9% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,919

+7% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$452,600

+26% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$76,174

+5% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$56,960

+4% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.5 yr

+8.9 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

44.6%

46.7%

+2.1 pp in Portland, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

59.2%

+5.9 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

19.9 min

+4.5 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

272.7

+40% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,513.3

+39% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

47.3 in

+33.3 in in Portland, ME

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

29.6

+95% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$31.62

+212% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

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 / ME)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

7.15%

+1.5 pp in ME

Bozeman vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Portland?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Portland?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).