Last checked October 29, 2026.
Bozeman is Montana’s most expensive larger town: a single adult renting their own 1-bedroom needs about $60,300 a year, while the median job there pays $54,830. Sharing a 2-bedroom brings the figure down to about $44,800.
At a glance
| Population | 58,814 (July 2025 Census estimate) |
| Region | Yellowstone Country, Gallatin County |
| Average 1-bedroom / 2-bedroom rent | $1,891 / $2,082 |
| Median home sale price | $649,570 (Redfin, Aug 2026) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $60,325 full budget; $75,640 by the 30% rule |
| Median wage, all jobs | $54,830 (Bozeman metro, May 2025) |
| Electric and gas | NorthWestern Energy for both |
| Resort tax | None in Bozeman; 4% in nearby Big Sky and West Yellowstone |
| Buses | Streamline, fare-free |
| Airport / hospital | Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN) / Bozeman Health Deaconess |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper | $1,832 | $1,900 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| RentCafe | $1,911 | $2,147 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Apartments.com | $1,929 | $2,199 | Oct 2026 |
| Average | $1,891 | $2,082 |
These are average asking rents on listings. Zumper reports rents up about 5% from a year earlier.
Buying a home
Redfin’s median sale price was $649,570 in August 2026, down 7.1% from a year earlier (Redfin). Single-family homes cost more: their median was $715,000 in February 2026, down from a peak of $898,000 in May 2023. Montana Free Press reported that buying the median home would take about $220,000 a year in income (Montana Free Press).
Property tax on a $649,570 home is about $2,977 a year if it’s your primary residence and about $6,910 as a second home, using the 559.86-mill total levy on 2025 Gallatin County tax bills for city parcels (our calculation; see property tax).
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent | $1,891 |
| Electric and gas (NorthWestern Energy typical bills) | $195 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $3,545 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $60,325 ($29.00 an hour) |
Change any line in the salary calculator. Streamline buses are free, so some people near a route manage without a car, which cuts about $441 a month.
Common questions
How much do you need to make to live in Bozeman?
About $60,300 a year before taxes ($29.00 an hour) for a single adult renting their own 1-bedroom, with a paid-off car and 10% saved, at 2026 asking rents and tax rates (our calculation). Sharing a 2-bedroom brings it to about $44,800. The median job in the Bozeman metro paid $54,830 in May 2025 (BLS).
What is the average rent in Bozeman?
About $1,891 a month for a 1-bedroom and $2,082 for a 2-bedroom, the average of Zumper, RentCafe and Apartments.com asking rents in October 2026.
How much are property taxes in Bozeman?
On the $649,570 median home (Redfin, August 2026), about $2,977 a year if you live in it and $6,910 as a second home, at Montana’s 2026 rates and the 559.86-mill levy on 2025 Gallatin County tax bills for city parcels.
Does Bozeman have a sales tax?
No. Montana has no general sales tax, and Bozeman has no resort tax. Nearby Big Sky and West Yellowstone charge a 4% resort tax on many purchases.
Is Bozeman the most expensive town in Montana?
Among the towns we track, Bozeman needs the most income to rent your own 1-bedroom at current asking rents ($60,325), just ahead of Big Sky ($59,795). Big Sky is far more expensive to buy in: its median sale price was about $1.9 million, against $649,570 in Bozeman (Redfin, 2026). See the cost index.