CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Bozeman, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Bozeman
102.5
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Bozeman is slightly cheaper than Boulder — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $77,900 in Bozeman. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing11.3%
Boulder
157
Bozeman
139.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Boulder
96.1
Bozeman
96
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Boulder
104.8
Bozeman
103.7
🏥 Healthcare1.1%
Boulder
94.8
Bozeman
93.8
Utilities11.0%
Boulder
82.7
Bozeman
73.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boulder to see what you'd need to earn in Bozeman to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Bozeman, MT
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Bozeman

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.9743. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Bozeman, MT

Median Home Price
$678,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
139.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.9×

Boulder has 11.3% lower housing costs compared to Bozeman.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Bozeman, MT

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
53,293
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyTourismHealthcareAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Bozeman, MT
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.