Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Raleigh?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Raleigh?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 3% higher in Raleigh, NC. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,301

+22% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,323

+9% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,462

+4% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,715

+17% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$377,800

+39% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$82,424

+3% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$51,990

+5% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

34.7 yr

+6.1 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

44.6%

51.2%

+6.6 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

52.9%

+12.2 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

23.4 min

+8.0 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

491.5

+9% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,838.4

+57% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+15.3°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

46.0 in

+32.0 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

14.7

+3% in Bozeman, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$30.10

+197% in Raleigh, NC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Bozeman, MT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Bozeman, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Bozeman, MT

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / NC)

None

4.75%

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

3.99%

+1.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Raleigh?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Raleigh?: 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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Raleigh?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).