Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Worcester?

Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bozeman vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,903 in Bozeman, MT and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 15% higher in Bozeman, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bozeman, MT

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,064

$1,087

+2% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,028

+15% in Bozeman, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,528

$1,476

+3% in Bozeman, MT

3 Bedroom

$2,057

$1,675

+19% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$614,900

$339,500

+45% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$79,903

$67,544

+15% in Bozeman, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,830

$57,830

+5% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

34.1 yr

+5.5 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

44.6%

42.4%

+2.2 pp in Bozeman, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

65.1%

34.1%

+31.0 pp in Bozeman, MT

Avg Commute

15.4 min

25.1 min

+9.7 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

451.2

640.2

+42% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,808.3

1,580.3

+13% 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

47.9°F

+2.6°F in Worcester, MA

Annual Precipitation

14.0 in

48.1 in

+34.1 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$4.07/gal

+5% in Bozeman, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.6

+96% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.12

$30.66

+203% in Worcester, MA

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 Worcester, MA

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 / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.65%

9.00%

+3.3 pp in MA

Bozeman vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bozeman or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bozeman than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Bozeman versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Bozeman or Worcester?: Bozeman is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).