Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Portland?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 10% higher in Portland, OR. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,294

+22% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,440

+19% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,741

+14% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$2,053

+0% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$557,600

+9% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$88,792

+11% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$60,690

+11% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

38.6 yr

+10.0 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

44.6%

52.8%

+8.2 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

53.5%

+11.6 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

24.6 min

+9.2 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

732.3

+62% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

1,808.3

5,609.4

+210% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+9.2°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

42.9 in

+28.9 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Portland, OR

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

Adult base one-way fare — — vs TriMet (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

16.3

+8% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$21.60

+113% in Portland, OR

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 / OR)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.90%

+4.3 pp in OR

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 16% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).