Last checked October 29, 2026.
This is Montana’s most expensive region: renting your own 1-bedroom takes about $60,000 a year in Bozeman or Big Sky at current asking rents, and about $52,100 in Belgrade. Livingston and Red Lodge cost less to rent, though Red Lodge’s home prices are high.
| Town | Census median rent, 1-bedroom | Income needed at Census rent | Income needed at current asking rents | Census median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lodge | $620 | $33,528 | $380,700 | |
| Livingston | $915 | $38,920 | $392,400 | |
| Belgrade | $1,046 | $41,315 | $52,063 | $535,200 |
| West Yellowstone | $1,046 | $41,315 | $504,300 | |
| Bozeman | $1,317 | $46,269 | $60,325 | $687,900 |
| Big Sky | n/a | n/a | $59,795 | $1,137,900 |
Census figures: ACS 2020–2024, rent paid including utilities; Big Sky’s Census rent is too uncertain to use. Income needed: single adult, paid-off car, 10% saved, after taxes. See all towns for details.
Region notes
- Resort tax: 4% in Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Red Lodge; 3% in Gardiner and Cooke City (details).
- Getting around: Streamline buses in the Gallatin Valley are free, including commuter routes from Belgrade and Livingston; Skyline’s local routes in Big Sky are free.
- Utilities: NorthWestern Energy serves Bozeman for electricity and gas. Big Sky has no natural gas, so most homes heat with propane.