Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,324 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,882 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,440 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 6% more than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 165%, Bozeman, MT by 149%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$27.23 $27.23

-6.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$101 $101

20.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$14.26 $14.26

-3.16%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.79 $5.79

1.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.52 $3.52

-14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.71 $2.71

-11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$7.02 $7.02

12.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.02 $7.02

16.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.17 $1.17

19.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.96 $4.96

-1.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$6.09 $6.09

-14.94%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.06 $6.06

13.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$22.08 $22.08

12.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.06 $12.06

30.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$20.07 $20.07

0.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.57 $4.57

31.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.53 $1.53

85.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.32 $3.32

61.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.56 $3.56

87.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.80 $1.80

74.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.64 $1.64

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.29 $2.29

21.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.20 $1.20

120.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.83 $8.83

28.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$17.78 $17.78

-12.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.78 $1.78

61.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$2.77 $2.77

51.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.96 $1.96

41.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.55 $2.55

1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.41 $1.41

18.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$28.74 $28.74

3.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.4K $33.4K

$30.2K $30.2K

10.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$263 $263

$159 $159

64.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$50.9 $50.9

20.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$89.9 $89.9

-17.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$62.4 $62.4

27.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

$29.60 $29.60

38.68%

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$13.76 $13.76

14.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,289 $2,289

$1,179 $1,179

94.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.2K $32.2K

-7.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$65.6 $65.6

3.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$32.80 $32.80

58.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$121 $121

-3.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$99.3 $99.3

40.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$2,460 $2,460

-3.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,915 $1,915

-2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,945 $3,945

20.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$3,056 $3,056

16.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$6,108 $6,108

31.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$5,915 $5,915

-12.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$4,348 $4,348

52.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.62

-3.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bozeman, MT: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $2,460 in Bozeman, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $101 in Bozeman, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $442 – making Bozeman, MT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Seattle, WA vs Bozeman, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,987 in Bozeman, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bozeman, MT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA and $101 in Bozeman, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $3,324 in Bozeman, MT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bozeman, MT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bozeman, MT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.