Last checked October 29, 2026.
Big Sky is the most expensive place to buy a home that we track, at a median of about $1.9 million, and a 1-bedroom rents for about $1,800 to $1,900 on Zumper.
At a glance
| Population | 2,445 (Census ACS 2020–2024) |
| Region | Yellowstone Country, Gallatin and Madison counties |
| Average 1-bedroom asking rent | $1,862 (Zumper, Oct 2026) |
| Home prices | $1,895,745 median sale (Redfin, 3 months ending Aug 2026) |
| Median home value, Census | $1,137,900 (2020–2024) |
| Median household income, Census | $138,805 (2020–2024) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $59,795 at current asking rents |
| Electric and gas | No natural gas; most homes heat with propane (Explore Big Sky) |
| Resort tax | 4% on luxury goods and services, including lodging, restaurants and recreation |
| Buses | Skyline: local routes free; Bozeman–Big Sky link $5 one-way |
| Hospital / airport | Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center (emergency department) / Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN) |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper | $1,862 | $2,427 | Oct 2026 |
For Big Sky the Census rent figures are suppressed or far too uncertain to use.
Buying a home
Redfin’s median sale price was $1,895,745 for the three months ending August 2026, down 13.7% (Redfin). The Census median home value was $1,137,900. See property tax for the 2026 homestead rate; second homes, common in Big Sky, pay the higher 1.9% rate.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent (average 1-bedroom asking rent) | $1,862 |
| Electric and heat (placeholder; Big Sky has no natural gas, so most homes heat with propane) | $195 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $3,516 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $59,795 ($28.75 an hour) |
Same budget as our salary calculator; the car and other lines are explained there. Zumper flags limited data for Big Sky.
Recent news
- Voters weighed up to $60 million in resort-tax-backed debt for Cold Smoke, a deed-restricted project of 264 apartments and 125 homes for local workers (Explore Big Sky, Apr 17, 2025).