PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Bozeman, MT

BEA RPP 102.5 ranks #336 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).

102.5
Cost index (US=100)
$2,154
2BR rent / mo
$66,748
Median salary
43.8
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Bozeman ranks #293 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (43.8/100), with its strongest marks in air quality and schools.

#293
of 387 US metros · Below median
1,137,233
metro-area population
426
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
826
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: climate (4/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Bozeman ranks #293 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 102.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,154/mo, median salary $66,748; LiveAbility Score 43.8/100, strongest in air quality and schools.

Signature: BEA RPP 102.5 ranks #336 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 102.5 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,154/mo.

LiveAbility 43.8/100 puts Bozeman in the bottom third (#293 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Bozeman area is 62,840.

Bozeman vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

44 Top 76% higher than 24% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Bozeman housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Bozeman MSA; housing RPP 139.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,154/mo.

Studio
$1,485
/month
1 Bedroom
$1,642
/month
2 Bedroom
$2,154
/month
3 Bedroom
$2,996
/month
4 Bedroom
$3,537
/month

Bozeman wages and employment

Bozeman posts 62,840 total employment with median salary $66,748 against a dearer-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$66,748
Mean Salary
$70,372
Total Employment
62,840

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Retail Salespersons $38,350
General and Operations Managers $103,210
Fast Food and Counter Workers $31,840
Cashiers $38,130
Office Clerks, General $50,800

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Bozeman area from NCES.

Schools
826
Enrollment
146,015
Student:Teacher
11.8:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Bozeman area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$11,466
per year
Toddler (Center)
$11,929
per year
Preschool (Center)
$10,243
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Bozeman's composite Life Score is 34.2/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
13/100
Bottom decile
Wages
66/100
Strong
Rent
6/100
Bottom decile
Crime
24/100
Weak
Schools
8/100
Bottom decile
Childcare
36/100
Below average
Environment
94/100
Elite

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Bozeman ranks #293 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 43.8/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Air quality (100/100)

Bozeman - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Bozeman's strongest dimensions are air quality and schools; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 4/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Bozeman to

Augusta-Richmond County Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Bakersfield-Delano Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Bangor Barnstable Town

Metros near Bozeman on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Bozeman on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Bozeman cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Bozeman wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Bozeman?

Bozeman runs a $66,748 median salary at a 102.5 cost index, ranking #293 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Bozeman's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Bozeman head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Bozeman
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.