Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Rochester?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 42% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$750

+30% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$857

+29% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,114

+27% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,240

+40% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$120,600

+80% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$46,628

+42% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$51,210

+7% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

33.5 yr

+4.9 yr in Rochester, NY

Homeownership

44.6%

37.2%

+7.4 pp in Bozeman, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

29.9%

+35.2 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

18.9 min

+3.5 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

690

+53% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

1,808.3

3,533.4

+95% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+2.9°F in Rochester, NY

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

34.3 in

+20.3 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.13/gal

+3% in Bozeman, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.5

+95% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$27.01

+167% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY

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 / NY)

None

+4.0 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

10.90%

+5.3 pp in NY

Bozeman vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Rochester?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).