Living Cost Compare
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Bozeman, MT is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 12% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,064
$1,496
+41% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,357
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,528
$1,559
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$2,057
$1,857
+10% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$614,900
$366,300
+40% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$79,903
$90,685
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,830
$49,430
+10% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
37.4 yr
+8.8 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
44.6%
64.9%
+20.3 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
40.4%
+24.7 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
15.4 min
23.2 min
+7.8 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
451.2
96.9
+79% in Bozeman, MT
Property Crime
1,808.3
1,664.9
+8% 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
59.9°F
+14.6°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
14.0 in
44.3 in
+30.3 in in Virginia Beach, VA

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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
17.2
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.12
$27.20
+169% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
5.75%
+0.1 pp in VA

Bozeman vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Virginia Beach?
Bozeman, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Virginia Beach?
Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).