Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Tampa?

Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Tampa?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 11% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,242

+17% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,324

+9% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,673

+9% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,729

+16% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$375,300

+39% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$71,302

+11% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$48,940

+11% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.6 yr

+7.0 yr in Tampa, FL

Homeownership

44.6%

50.2%

+5.6 pp in Tampa, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

44.6%

+20.5 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

24.7 min

+9.3 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

443.2

+2% in Bozeman, MT

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,473.2

+19% in Bozeman, MT

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

73.4°F

+28.1°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

46.3 in

+32.3 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.83/gal

+10% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

+0% in Bozeman, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$23.62

+133% in Tampa, FL

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 Tampa, FL

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 / FL)

None

+6.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

None

+5.7 pp in MT

Bozeman vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Tampa?: Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Tampa?: 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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Tampa?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).