Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 6% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$997
+6% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,166
+4% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$1,461
+4% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,993
+3% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$495,700
+19% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$74,925
+6% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$55,240
+1% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
33.0 yr
+4.4 yr in Salt Lake City, UT
Homeownership
44.6%
46.8%
+2.2 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
50.9%
+14.2 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
19.6 min
+4.2 min in Salt Lake City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
878.8
+95% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
1,808.3
5,257.3
+191% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+7.5°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
16.1 in
+2.1 in in Salt Lake City, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$4.27/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
13.4
+12% in Bozeman, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$11.84
+17% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / UT)
None
6.1%
+6.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
4.50%
+1.2 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Salt Lake City?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).