Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Sioux Falls?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Sioux Falls Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 6% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$825

+22% in Bozeman, MT

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$870

+28% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,000

+35% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,237

+40% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$271,400

+56% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$74,714

+6% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$47,970

+13% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.1 yr

+6.5 yr in Sioux Falls, SD

Homeownership

44.6%

60.0%

+15.4 pp in Sioux Falls, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

37.4%

+27.7 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

17.0 min

+1.6 min in Sioux Falls, SD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

526.7

+17% in Sioux Falls, SD

Property Crime

1,808.3

2,927.1

+62% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

45.8°F

+0.5°F in Sioux Falls, SD

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

26.4 in

+12.4 in in Sioux Falls, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.4

+1% in Sioux Falls, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$15.26

+51% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

$1.66

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Sioux Falls, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Bozeman, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Sioux Falls, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Bozeman, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / SD)

None

4.2%

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Sioux Falls?: Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Sioux Falls?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Sioux Falls?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).